Houston Dynamo striker Brian Ching was the perfect fan favorite for working class Houston, a “warrior” for lack of a better word, someone who made the very most of his talent and athletic ability through passion for the game and consummate effort on the training ground and on match day.
Anyone paying attention knew that 2013 would be Ching’s final season, even if he had left the teeniest bit of wiggle room for a 2014 appearance. He came so close to retiring in 2012, after all, and he has become a peripheral figure around BBVA Compass Stadium, making the occasional start in Champions League or U.S. Open Cup but only appearing off the bench in MLS matches (and usually quite late, even then).
Ching, 35, had five goals in 2011 and repeated the sum in 2012, but he’s still looking for his first MLS strike of 2013.
Personal Ching moment that I’ll never forget: Taylor Twellman had broken a 113-minute scoreless deadlock for New England in MLS Cup 2006. As Houston kicked off, Ching recognized a ball going wide, committed himself to a hard run forward and launched himself into championship-game history with the quick-strike, dramatic equalizer past Matt Reis.
The Dynamo won that year’s MLS Cup, the first of two in a row, in penalty kicks. Highlights of the match, plus Ching talking about it, are here:
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[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygwnjaW_5WA&w=420&h=315]
. Here is what Ching told The Houston Chronicle about today’s announcement, which will officially close his 12-year MLS career. Ching, who also scored 11 goals while earning 45 caps for the U.S. national team, will remain with the team through the rest of the 2013 season.
If I had retired last year, it would have been more of a difficult decision than it was this year. My body is telling me that it’s time to call it and retire. I can’t play 90 minutes at the level I want. My body hurts if I do play over 45 minutes. It doesn’t just hurt a couple days after. It hurts an entire week.”
