Mon Oct 6 18:41:18 2008

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Ching's brace earns him MLS Player of Week

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New York, NY (Sports Network) - Houston Dynamo forward Brian Ching was voted Major League Soccer's Player of the Week for Week 28, it was announced on Monday.

Ching scored two goals and an assist on Saturday, leading the Dynamo to a 3-1 win over the Colorado Rapids. With the win, Houston (11-5-10) became on of three MLS teams to clinch a berth for the 2008 MLS Cup Playoffs.

Ching got the scoring started just two minutes in when he capitalized on a poor clearance by Rapids' goalkeeper Preston Burpo, shooting the ball into an open net. Ching scored his second goal of the night when he get got on the end of a Ricardo Clark cross and headed the ball into the crossbar. The ball bounced directly back off the bar, hit Ching in the chest and dropped into the goal for his 12th goal of the season.

Ching provided the assist on Houston's third goal when he found Clark open at the top of the penalty area. He laid the ball off and Clark struck a low curling shot inside the right post past a sprawling Burpo from 20 yards out.

This is Ching's second Player of the Week honor this season and the fourth of his career. He has recorded 56 goals in seven MLS seasons and his 12 goals this season equal his career high.

The MLS Player of the Week is selected each week of the regular season by a panel of journalists from The North American Soccer Reporters (SoccerReporters.com). The group consists of members of print, television, radio and online media.

Below are the 2008 MLS Player of the Week winners to date:

Week 1: Terry Cooke (Colorado Rapids)

Week 2: David Beckham (Los Angeles Galaxy)

Week 3: Guillermo Barros Schelotto (Columbus Crew)

Week 4: Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy)

Week 5: Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy)

Week 6: David Beckham (Los Angeles Galaxy)

Week 7: Robbie Rogers (Columbus Crew)

Week 8: Edson Buddle (Los Angeles Galaxy)

Week 9: Cuauhtemoc Blanco (Chicago Fire)

Week 10: Robbie Findley (Real Salt Lake)

Week 11: Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo)

Week 12: Edson Buddle (Los Angeles Galaxy)

Week 13: Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy)

Week 14: Steve Ralston (New England Revolution)

Week 15: Adam Cristman (New England Revolution)

Week 16: John Thorrington (Chicago Fire)

Week 17: Guillermo Barros Schelotto (Columbus Crew)

Week 18: Kenny Cooper (FC Dallas)

Week 19: Kenny Cooper (FC Dallas)

Week 20: Juan Pablo Angel (New York Red Bulls)

Week 21: Ronnie OBrien (San Jose Earthquakes)

Week 22: Guillermo Barros Schelotto (Columbus Crew)

Week 23: Fabian Espindola (Real Salt Lake)

Week 24: Guillermo Barros Schelotto (Columbus Crew)

Week 25: Steve Ralston (New England Revolution)

Week 26: Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy)

Week 27: Conor Casey (Colorado Rapids)

Week 28: Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo)