Just two days after calling a players-only meeting and ripping into his teammates, forward Brian Ching led the Dynamo with more than words Saturday night at Robertson Stadium.

Ching, the Dynamo’s all-time leading scorer, had a pair of goals to spark a 3-1 victory over the Seattle Sounders, leading the Dynamo to arguably their most impressive display since 2010.

“It’s crunch time,” said Ching, who has 75 goals in his Major League Soccer career. “It’s time to get some points at home. It’s time to start moving up the charts if we want to be in the playoffs.

“We all have pride, and we all want to be in the playoffs. We don’t want a repeat of last year, so I think we’re taking it upon ourselves to come out and perform.”

Effort pleases Kinnear

With the Dynamo facing the team with the third-best record in MLS, Ching was a menace all night inside the 18-yard box. He scored on a header and with a sliding finish before an appreciative crowd of 18,465, which gave him a standing ovation when he was replaced by Jason Garey in the 87th minute.

Patrick T. Fallon/Chronicle

“Happy for the guys,” said Dynamo coach Dominic Kinnear. “I told them afterward that I thought this was the best we’ve played all year.

“Energy was good, enthusiasm was good and we scored a couple of good goals in the game. We had some scary moments there, but all in all we played pretty well, and I’m happy for the guys.”

Seattle coach Sigi Schmid wouldn’t argue with Kinnear after the Dynamo snapped the Sounders’ nine-game regular-season unbeaten streak. But the Sounders lost their past three matches. They were trounced by English Premier League giant Manchester United 7-0, defeated 1-0 by San Francisco FC of Panama in a CONCACAF Champions League game and dominated by the Dynamo.

Praise from Schmid

“I thought Houston was better,” Schmid said. “I thought Brian Ching showed his leadership abilities. I think he carried that team. He was the man of the match without a doubt.”

The Dynamo (6-7-9, 27 points) can try to build on their victory over the Sounders (10-5-8, 38 points). The three goals were the most by the Dynamo since a 4-1 victory over D.C. United on April 29.

In the seventh minute, Dynamo rookie forward Will Bruin crossed the ball into the box to Ching, who chested it down. Seattle’s Tyson Wahl attempted to clear the ball, but it went to Colin Clark, who ripped a shot that keeper Kasey Keller could only deflect as it went into the net.

“All the goals (were on) great crosses,” Ching said. “The first one just goes right over (Osvaldo) Alonso, I trap it, am about to shoot it and the guy kind of bumps me. And Colin was Johnny-on-the-spot. It was a good finish.”

Ching gave the Dynamo a 2-0 lead in the 23rd minute, completing a magnificent sequence with Brad Davis and Geoff Cameron. Davis maneuvered his way down the left wing before dropping the ball back to Cameron, who then ripped a perfect cross from just outside the 18-yard box. Ching took care of the rest with a header.

Sounders connect

In the 36th minute, the Dynamo’s Corey Ashe was called for a penalty after fouling Fredy Montero in the box. Alvaro Fernandez converted the penalty.

Hunter Freeman set up the final goal by finding Clark streaking into the right side of the 18-yard box. Clark took one touch and then fed a pass across the mouth of the goal for Ching to slide in for the goal in the 71st minute.

“The last goal was just awesome hustle from Colin,” Ching said. “I thought he was up and down all night. Then he puts a great ball across, and it was one of the easier finishes I’ve had.”

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