Editing Brian Ching (section)

===San Jose Earthquakes (2003–2005)===
The first time the Earthquakes coaching staff got a good look at Brian Ching was facing him in the [[2002 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup#Third round|July 17, 2002, third round match]] of the U.S. Open Cup when San Jose defeated the Seattle Sounders 4–3 after [[Sudden death (sport)#Association football|sudden death extra time]].<ref name="testimonialannouncement">{{cite AV media
 | people =[[Dominic Kinnear]] (speaker)
 | title =Brian Ching Testimonial Announcement
 | medium =[[YouTube]]
 | url =https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYKz8qbjSo8&t=13m50s
 | access-date =December 18, 2013
 | date =September 24, 2013
 | time =13:50
 | location =[[BBVA Compass Stadium]], [[Houston, Texas]]
 | publisher =[[Houston Dynamo]]
 | quote =2002 Open Cup game, Seattle Sounders vs. San Jose Earthquakes. It was the first time we really got a good look at Brian Ching and we felt that Eddie Robinson, at the time, was the most physical and dominating center back in MLS. I thought Brian gave him a good little run around, and a good little throw down every once in a while. It was one of the best physical match-ups I've seen in a soccer match. After the game, the one thing we spoke about is how can we get this guy to come and play for us. We made a trade to get Brian in the 2003 supplemental draft. Little did I know, in 2003, how much success that draft would bring us and I think it goes down, possibly, as one of the best trades ever made in Major League Soccer.
}}</ref> Kinnear, assistant coach at the time, and head coach Frank Yallop were impressed with how Ching matched up with Earthquakes defender [[Eddie Robinson (soccer)|Eddie Robinson]], considered one of the best defenders in MLS at the time.<ref name="testimonialannouncement"/> Ching began training with the Earthquakes the following January.<ref name="chingsupplemental">{{Citation
| url = http://www.sjearthquakes.com/press_box/022803release.htm
| title =San Jose Acquire Brian Ching in MLS SuperDraft
| access-date = December 18, 2013
| publisher  = [[San Jose Earthquakes]]
| year   = 2003
| author = San Jose Earthquakes Media Relations
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20030605105411/http://www.sjearthquakes.com/press_box/022803release.htm
| archive-date=June 5, 2003
}}</ref> On February 11, 2003, San Jose traded [[Devin Barclay]] to [[D.C. United]] in exchange for the first overall pick in the [[2003 MLS supplemental draft]]<ref>{{Citation
| url = http://www.sjearthquakes.com/press_box/021103release1.htm
| title =San Jose Acquire Brian Ching in MLS SuperDraft
| access-date = December 18, 2013
| publisher  = [[San Jose Earthquakes]]
| year   = 2003
| author = San Jose Earthquakes Media Relations
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20030605102844/http://www.sjearthquakes.com/press_box/021103release1.htm
| archive-date=June 5, 2003
}}</ref> and on February 28, 2013, they used that pick to draft Ching.<ref name="chingsupplemental" />

Ching made his official Earthquakes debut in [[Guatemala City]] on March 16, 2003, playing a full match in a 4–2 [[2003 CONCACAF Champions' Cup|Champions' Cup]] loss to [[C.S.D. Municipal]].<ref name="MLSbio">{{cite news|title=Brian Ching|url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/players/brian-ching|access-date=18 December 2003|newspaper=[[Major League Soccer]]}}</ref> He played his first Earthquakes home game in the second leg against Municipal where he scored the first goal in the 35th minute.<ref name="MLSbio" /> Ching made his first Earthquakes start in the MLS regular season on April 12, 2003, at [[Colorado Rapids]] and scored 53 seconds into the game. He would miss five games due to a right hamstring strain before returning to the starting lineup to score two goals for his first multi-goal game in MLS on July 2, 2003, at the [[MetroStars]]. He played 90 minutes in his first encounter against his old club Seattle Sounders on August 5 but the 1–0 loss eliminated San Jose from the [[2003 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup|2003 Open Cup]].<ref name="MLSbio" />

Ching left the August 16, 2003, game at [[New England Revolution]] with a ruptured right Achilles tendon. He underwent surgery on August 19 and missed the rest of the [[2003 San Jose Earthquakes season|2003 season]] as the San Jose Earthquakes went on to win the [[MLS Cup 2003|2003 MLS Cup]]. Ching scored a then-career-high six goals and two assists during 2003. He was named to the MLS Team of the Week for April 12 and May 3, 2003.<ref name="MLSbio" />

Ching returned from injury in the [[2004 CONCACAF Champions' Cup|2004 Champions' Cup]] as a sub in both legs against eventual champion [[L.D. Alajuelense]]. Ching made his first start of the season on May 1 vs. D.C. United. Ching finished with a career-high 12 goals in MLS, sharing the [[MLS Golden Boot]] with [[Eddie Johnson (American soccer player)|Eddie Johnson]]. He was named to the [[MLS Best XI]] and recognized as the [[MLS Comeback Player of the Year Award|MLS Comeback Player of the Year]]. He also finished as the Earthquakes scoring champion and Most Valuable Player for the [[2004 San Jose Earthquakes season|2004 season]].<ref name="MLSbio" />

In 2005, Ching scored seven goals in 16 games and tallied a career-high five assists in MLS play. He registered a goal or an assist in five straight games before missing 15 matches with a hamstring injury. He ended the regular season having recorded a goal or assist in six straight games.<ref name="MLSbio" /> The San Jose Earthquakes finished the [[2005 San Jose Earthquakes season|2005 season]] with the best regular season record, clinching the [[Supporters' Shield]].<ref name="quakeshistory">{{Citation
| url   = http://www.sjearthquakes.com/club/history
| title = San Jose Earthquakes History
| publisher  = [[San Jose Earthquakes]]
| access-date = December 18, 2013
}}</ref> After the most successful regular season in team history with an 18–4–10 record and 64 points, the Earthquakes were placed on hiatus on December 15, 2005, with the franchise moving to Houston.<ref name="quakeshistory" />