Houston Dynamo Forward Brian Ching Named MLS Player of the Week
August 23, 2010 - Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release
NEW YORK (August 23, 2010) - Houston Dynamo forward Brian Ching was voted Major League Soccer Player of the Week by the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) for Week 21 of the 2010 MLS season. Ching's hat trick led the Dynamo to a 4-3 victory over the Chicago Fire on Saturday, August 21 at Robertson Stadium.
Ching started his goal-scoring tear in the 31st minute, capitalizing on a loose ball in the box. Teammate Richard Mulrooney sent corner kick into the top of the six-yard box, and although Chicago's goalkeeper Sean Johnson controlled the ball initially, he lost possession when he hit the ground hard in his landing. Ching pounced on the free ball and immediately kicked it into the open net for the first goal of the game.
Ching tallied his second of the night with a stunning bicycle-kick goal from seven yards out. In the 59th minute, Dynamo defender Bobby Boswell sent a hard shot on goal that careened off the crossbar and back into play. Ching, positioned outside the six-yard box, finished with a bicycle kick placed just inside the left post.
With the scored tied 3-3 in the 85th minute, Ching headed in his third goal of the night to complete the hat trick and to grab the 4-3 win for Houston.
This is Ching's second career hat trick with the Dynamo, his first came in the club's inaugural game on April 2, 2006.
This is the fifth Player of the Week award for Ching, who won previously in Week 16 of the 2004 season, Week 1 of the 2006 season, and in Weeks 11 and 28 of the 2008 season.
The MLS Player of the Week is selected each week of the regular season by a panel of journalists from NASR. The group consists of members of print, television, radio and online media. More information and membership information can be found at http://www.soccerreporters.com/.
2010 MLS Player of the Week Winners
Week 1: Javier Morales (Real Salt Lake)
Week 2: Kenny Mansally (New England Revolution)
Week 3: Sebastien Le Toux (Philadelphia Union)
Week 4: Edson Buddle (LA Galaxy)
Week 5: Dwayne De Rosario (Toronto FC)
Week 6: Edson Buddle (LA Galaxy)
Week 7: Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy)
Week 8: Alvaro Saborio (Real Salt Lake)
Week 9: Emilio Renteria (Columbus Crew)
Week 10: Dwayne De Rosario (Toronto FC)
Week 11: Brek Shea (FC Dallas)
Week 12: Chris Pontius (D.C. United)
Week 13: Juan Pablo Ángel (New York Red Bulls)
Week 14: Álvaro Saborío (Real Salt Lake)
Week 15: Justin Braun (Chivas USA)
Week 16: Sebastien Le Toux (Philadelphia Union)
Week 17: Steve Zakuani (Seattle Sounders)
Week 18: Juan Pablo Ángel (New York Red Bulls)
Week 19: Jeff Cunningham (FC Dallas)
Week 20: Javier Morales (Real Salt Lake)
Week 21: Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo)
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