Hardworking, underappreciated Ching may be key against Mexico

If the U.S. is to maintain its perfect home record against Mexico over the past 10 years on Wednesday, Brian Ching may have the most to say about it. Simon Bruty/SI

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- To put it bluntly, Brian Ching isn't a favorite among most fans of the U.S. national team. There are Web threads in his honor entitled "Why Brian Ching Sucks" or "I Hate Brian Ching."

When he was named to the 2006 World Cup squad over the flashier Taylor Twellman, the Internet was abuzz with such gems as this one: "Was this the Brian Ching who looks lost on the pitch? The guy who is completely disinterested and cannot finish? The player who makes strange, ineffective runs? The one who is always a split-second or a step late?"

As we move toward the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, Ching is still somewhat of a nuisance for those fans who are waiting around for the Next Great American striker. And they want young phenoms Jozy Altidore or Kenny Cooper -- not Ching.

"I can't say I'm immune to it," the Hawaiian striker says of his not-so-special place in fans' hearts. "I know there are a lot of fans out there who don't like me or the way I play. I understand that."

But in reality, the 30-year-old Ching has become one of the most key players on a young American squad (average age: 25), and it's his willingness to do the dirty work -- the less-than-aesthetically pleasing labor -- that makes him a key figure in Wednesday night's U.S. vs. Mexico duel as the final round of 2010 World Cup qualifying kicks off (7 p.m. ET, ESPN2, Univisión).

Ching's underappreciated talents are the kind of grind-'em-out skills that get the job done in these notoriously chippy U.S.-Mexico affairs. He can score goals, of course -- his four strikes in 2008 tied him for the team lead with Landon Donovan and, with his club team, the Houston Dynamo, he has finished in the top 10 in scoring in MLS in two of the past three years.

But his other assets often go unnoticed. The way he can hold the ball for long periods at a time as defenders flock to him, for instance, freeing up his teammates in front of goal. The subtle passing he's able to do in the box. The smash-mouth presence in front of the net that is underappreciated. The big body that's often needed to out-muscle opponents on the defensive side of the field or on set pieces.

If the U.S. is to maintain its perfect home record against Mexico over the past 10 years on Wednesday at Crew Stadium, Ching may have the most to say about it. U.S. coach Bob Bradley will likely start Ching alone up top as a single center forward, with Donovan or Clint Dempsey operating in a wider role.

That means Ching is going to have to shoulder much more of the responsibility in the last third of the field, and he'll be in the trenches against a Mexican defense that, no matter how badly affected by injuries or suspensions, will still be tough.

"If they're banged up, good for us," says Ching. "But they've got players who, even if they're a step behind, are going to be difficult to play against. With the magnitude of the game, anyone they put in there is going to be playing one of their better games."

Wednesday marks only the second time Ching has faced Mexico, but he's no stranger to the hard-knocks tactics that are indispensable in games of this intensity. Two summers ago in Chicago, he was instrumental in the Americans' come-from-behind win over Mexico in the CONCACAF Gold Cup final. Down 1-0 in the second half at Soldier Field, Ching got tangled up in the box with Mexico's Jonny Magallón and drew a foul on the defender that set up a penalty kick. Donovan converted from the spot to tie it up, and the U.S. went on to win 2-1.