<div style="text-align: center"><a href="http:\/\/view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/sports/chicago-fire-chivas-usa/image/9974914?term=Brian+McBride" target="_blank"><div><figure class="image"></figure></div></a></div>
<p>Jaime Moreno was not the only big-name retiree this weekend; the Chicago Fire said goodbye to American soccer legend Brian McBride and longtime defender C.J. Brown.&nbsp; The club’s overall record was disappointing to fans, but by getting ten points in the last six matches the club has some optimism going into the offseason.</p>
<p>Swedish international Freddie Ljungberg was the star of the show, finishing with a goal and an assist.&nbsp; It was his assist that gained the attention rather than his match-winning goal.&nbsp; In the fortieth minute he provided a cross in the goal area that for the eightieth time Brian McBride slide into the back of the net, this time with his right foot. &nbsp; McBride remained on the field long enough to watch Ljungberg slot the game’s second goal inside the right post to take a 2-0 lead, which was expanded to 4 Fire goals later in the match by Carr (67) and Husidic (90+).&nbsp; Maldonado notched a goal for Chivas, but their season ended as it did so often this season – on the wrong side of the ledger.</p>
<p>McBride, quite possibly the greatest U.S. national player in the past few decades, was substituted off in the 51st minute to applause from the home fans. &nbsp;Rather than rehash his illustrious career in MLS, the national team, and England, I want to just point out some of the amazing highlights (<a href="http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_McBride" target="_blank">you can see the summary here</a>). &nbsp;He was the first player selected in the MLS Inaugural Draft and went on to be named one of the MLS All-Time Best XI. &nbsp;Since his retirement from international soccer, the US has had problems finding a consistent threat at striker, helping build his international legacy.&nbsp; He is a legend for his first club the Columbus Crew and his hometown team the Chicago Fire, and MLS will lose another major star next year.</p>
<p>McBride was not the only player playing in his last game, however. &nbsp;C.J. Brown, one of the “Fire Originals” selected in the 1998 Supplemental Draft, also played his last match. &nbsp;The defender had a solid international and domestic career, and witnessed all of the Fire’s great moments on the pitch, including one MLS Cup and four U.S. Open Cups.&nbsp; In a testament to his work in the community, Brown also won three Humanitarian of the Year Awards.</p>
<p>The offseason will be a critical one for both clubs.&nbsp; Chicago, who is used to contending for the playoffs, could have only one starter back after a number of retirements, contracts expiring, and unprotected players in the expansion draft.&nbsp; On the other side of the pitch, Chivas fell from four straight playoff appearances to utter miserableness and now face the loss of Jonathan Bornstein to Mexico.</p>
<p>Playoff schedules, analysis, and awards coming later today!&nbsp; Share your Brian McBride memories below in the comments section.</p>


ALL POSTS TAGGED "lamar hunt us open cup" - Page 2

Brian McBride

Fire Send Off McBride, Brown in Style