KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany — Hawai'i's Brian Ching didn't play in the United States' 1-1 tie with Italy yesterday, but he was proud nonetheless.

"I can't say enough of the performance the guys put together on the field tonight," Ching said. "It was like night and day from the first game to this game."

After a 3-0 loss to the Czech Republic on Monday, the U.S. players were all but given up for dead. Yesterday, they came to life in a physical match that saw three players sent off.

"I would have loved to have got in," Ching said, "but I was rooting for those guys the whole time."

When Italy's Daniele DeRossi landed an elbow just below the left eye of U.S. forward Brian McBride in the first half — sending McBride to the sidelines with blood trickling down his face — Ching warmed up briefly.

"I was ready and excited, but I guess I wasn't needed," Ching said. "Brian was OK. Maybe the next game I'll get a chance."