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MONTREAL - It wasnt the game-winner he hoped for to end a 20-career in professional soccer, but Marco Di Vaio still left the Montreal Impact with a goal to remember him by.The 38-year-old Italian, who finished off a stellar career with three Major League Soccer seasons in Montreal, scored in the 27th minute only to see Fabian Espindola get the equalizer in the 86th as the Impact played to a 1-1 draw with D.C. United on Saturday.To finish my career is a little bit sad, but this has been a big day for me and my family, so Im happy, said Di Vaio. Scoring goals was my life, and this was the last time I will feel that emotion.But I received a lot of emotion from everyone in Montreal, inside and outside the stadium. I feel like a lucky guy.The game meant nothing in the standings to either side.Montreal (6-10-18) finished last in the 19-team MLS after a difficult season, although they took heart from going undefeated — three wins and three ties — in the last six home games.D.C. United (17-8-9), which finished on a six-game unbeaten string, came first in the Eastern Conference and will face the winner of the fourth versus fifth place knockout game in the playoffs.It poured cold rain throughout the match, but the crowd of 15,242 were there mostly to celebrate the career of perhaps the best player ever to put on the Impacts blue, white and black uniform.The goal, scored on a solo run up the left side with a low shot slotted past goalkeeper Bill Hamid, was like many of the 34 he scored in 76 games for Montreal.When he went in, Di Vaio performed his signature goal celebration — he kissed the ring on his left hand and lifted his arm to the sky.What I said to the group before the game is that Im honoured to be part of this group and to finish my career here in Montreal, he said. Every victory, every goal with this team is part of my memories. It was an incredible experience.He was feted in a pre-game ceremony in which he brought his daughters Sofia, 8, and Sara, 6, onto the field, where he was presented with a painting of himself kissing his ring that was done by teammate Issey Nakajima-Farran, a professional artist when not playing soccer.This painting will come with me to Italy in my house, said Di Vaio, who is expected to take a job with his former team, Bologna FC, which was recently bought by a group that includes Impact president Joey Saputo.Nakajima-Farran said the painting, which took 27 hours to complete, was called Taking Off The tape, a reference to the tape Di Vaio put over the ring during games.Hes never going to take that tape off again, said Nakajima-Farran. We had all the guys sign the back, so it was a collective thing.All the players wanted to be part of it, so I think its a very personal present for him. He looked pretty happy. I was hoping he would cry, but he didnt.Di Vaio joined Montreal three months into its MLS expansion season in 2012 after a long career in Italy as the teams first designated player. He quickly became its most popular and productive player.His 20 goals in 2013, none of them from the penalty spot, helped the Impact reach the playoffs in only its second MLS campaign.A three-game suspension and some early injury trouble limited him to nine goals this season.Nakajima-Farran said the Impact players were looking to set up Di Vaio in his last game.It worked when Dilly Duka sent him in alone to score. Another chance in the 52nd minute was foiled by Sean Franklins sliding clearance. Di Vaio had one last chance in added time, but chipped a shot just wide before he was substituted off to a standing ovation.It was a special moment, said Nakajima-Farran. We were fighting to get possession of the ball, but we were always looking across to Marco.It was an emotional time for him.Espindola got the equalizer when he cut across the edge of the penalty area from the right side and made a sharp turn and fired a low shot to catch Evan Bush leaning the wrong way.Former Impact and Italy defender Alessandro Nesta, who had his own retirement game a year ago, was in attendance and was among a group of former teammates who saluted Di Vaio in Italian in scoreboard messages played at the intermission. NOTES: Montreal used a makeshift back-line with Matteo Ferrari, Hassoun Camara and Heath Pearce all serving one-game suspensions. Academy products Karl Ouimette, Wandrille Lefevre and Maxim Tissot all started on defence. Midfielder Felipe Martins sat out with an injury. . . Former Impact captain Davy Arnaud did not dress for D.C. Miami Marlins Store . 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Johny Hendricks vs. Marlins Jerseys China .com) - Wimbledon runner-up Eugenie Bouchard notched a win, while second-seeded two-time champion Ana Ivanovic, third- seeded Australian Open runner-up Dominika Cibulkova and fifth seed Sabine Lisicki all exited the draw at the Generali Ladies Linz tennis event.Major League Baseball’s winter GM Meetings are wrapping up, leaving 30 general managers set to start their off-season renovations. TSN.ca looks at the day’s hottest rumours as free agent season gets off the ground. We Need to Talk about Devon The Toronto Blue Jays made an intriguing trade late Wednesday night, shipping young centrefielder Anthony Gose to the Detroit Tigers for second base prospect Devon Travis. The National Post writes that Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos has high hopes for Travis, recently named the Tigers’ top prospect by Baseball America. “We think he can come quick,” Anthopoulos said in a conference call. “We expect him to start in Triple-A next year but we wouldn’t rule out, barring adding some other guys to the 25-man [roster], him competing for a job at second base.” The deal saw both teams dealing from a position of strength, Gose facing competition from prized prospect Dalton Pompey in centre while Travis languishing in the shadow of Ian Kinsler at second in the Tigers organization. Friends or Foes? One of the most interesting facets of the deal between the Jays and Tigers is that just hours prior they were both vying for the same prize. Hours before the Gose-Travis deal was completed, the Jays were reportedly hot on the trail of Tigers first baseman/designated hitter Victor Martinez. FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal reports that the Jays were “the team [the Tigers] feared most in bidding for Martinez.” Rosenthal adds that Martinez wanted to stay in Detroit. The fear of the Tigers, however, suggests that the Jays may be more serious contenders for top free agents than some expect. Battery Boost The San Diego Padres appear to be ready to deal, dangling a trio of pitchers and a pair of catchers as bait. Jon Heyman of CBS reported Thursday afternoon that the club was taking offers on pitchhers Ian Kennedy, Andrew Cashner and Tyson Ross and catchers Yasmani Grandal and Rene Rivera.dddddddddddd The Padres are believed to be looking for an offensive upgrade after scoring an MLB-worst 535 runs in 2014. One and Done? The Kansas City Royals are fresh off being one of 2014’s feel-good stories. Not only did they end a 29-year playoff drought with a strong finish to the campaign, but they came just one win away from winning the World Series, despite having started the playoffs just two outs from a Wild Card loss to Oakland. But will KC be able to keep its core together? The Royals have free agents to worry about already with ace James Shields, DH Billy Butler and outfielder Nori Aoki already available on the free agent market. Complicating the matter for the Royals, according to FOX Sports’ Jon Morosi, is the cost of keeping its deadly bullpen tandem of Kelvin Herrera, Wade Davis and Greg Holland locked in. The trio could earn as much as $17.8M in 2015, which may force the Royals’ hand in terms of where it invests its already-small-market payroll. Braves New World Rosenthal also chimed in on the bidding for free agent lefty Jon Lester Thursday, wondering if anyone can outbid the two perceived favourites for his services. 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