U.S. World Cup forward Brian Ching returned to Houston Dynamo's starting lineup, but the addition of the team's leading scorer couldn't impact the attack as they played to a scoreless draw with the Los Angeles Galaxy at The Home Depot Center on Saturday.
Ching, who did not play in any of the USA's three World Cup games, was instantly inserted into the starting lineup upon his arrival in the country. The U.S. was eliminated from the World Cup after a 2-1 loss to Ghana on Thursday in Nuremberg, Germany.
The Galaxy got a pair of national team players back as well but only Chris Albright returned to the starting lineup. Albright, who like Ching did not play during the World Cup, left the game in the 62nd minute though after his wife went into labor and was rushed to a local hospital.
A group of about 100 fans clad in San Jose Earthquakes gear took up one section of the stands. The group cheered loudly throughout the game and at times rekindled memories of Galaxy-Earthquakes battles in the California Clasico. The Earthquakes moved to Houston during the offseason.
Ching had his first opportunity in the 17th minute. Wade Barrett found space on the left side of the field and slipped a pass across the top of the penalty area. The ball landed at Ching's feet but the U.S. international had slipped moments before the ball got to him and regained his footing in time to send the ball sailing over the crossbar.
Ching showed flashes of why he was selected to the U.S. World Cup roster minutes later. In the 23rd minute, Ricardo Clark shook off Galaxy defender Ugo Ihemelu near the left touchline. Clark fired a low-hard cross to the front of the goal and Ching hammered a header on frame. Galaxy keeper Kevin Hartman dived to his left and made the save, though.
Hartman again made a strong save later in the half. Alejandro Moreno found the ball in space some 22 yards out. Moreno turned and fired a rocket on goal but Hartman did well to block the shot.
Ching nearly set up a Houston goal near the end of the first half. Ching leapt for a cross on the left side of the box. Instead of putting it on goal, he dropped it off to the top of the penalty area. Dwayne De Rosario grazed it but Moreno blasted a shot that missed the left post by mere inches.
Ching was dangerous again, nearly at the stroke of halftime. He turned and fired a shot from eight yards out but his left-footed attempt whizzed past the right post.
The match was bogged down at the start of the second half. The game lost its rhythm despite neither side making changes at halftime as both sides eventually went out with a whimper.
It wasn't until the 71st minute that the half's first legitimate chance on goal came. A failed bicycle kick attempt by Clark spun awkwardly to Dwayne De Rosario, but his feeble attempt at goal sailed well wide.
The Galaxy first real threat in the second half didn't come until the 83rd minute. Gardner sent a corner kick into the box and Tyrone Marshall won the header, but was nowhere near the target.
Luis Bueno is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
