D.C. United plays 0-0 draw with Chicago Fire in MLS preseason opener

D.C. United opened its preseason schedule with a 0-0 draw against the Chicago Fire on Sunday at Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers, Fla.

Four players returning from injury missed the match — defender Ethan White, midfielders Chris Pontius and Nick DeLeon, and forward Josh Wolff. Midfielder Kurt Morsink returned to Washington after suffering an injury in training this past week. Goalkeeper Bill Hamid, on U.S. national team duty the past four weeks, was scheduled to report to camp Sunday night.

Dwayne De Rosario, the 2011 MLS most valuable player, was held out. He is not injured and seems likely to make his 2012 debut Thursday against Swedish club Malmo in Bradenton, Fla.

Argentine center back Emiliano Dudar, United’s latest signing, played 35 minutes in the second half.

Joe Willis played 74 minutes in goal, with trialist Andrew Dykstra finishing the match. Another goalkeeping trialist, Josh Lambo, didn’t play.

United is expected to update its list of trialists by Monday. Forward Alanzo Adlam, a trialist from Jamaica, was cut this weekend.

For United’s lineup on Sunday.....

D.C. United, First half: Joe Willis; Robbie Russell (Chris Korb 31th), Brandon McDonald, Dejan Jakovic, Daniel Woolard; Andy Najar, Perry Kitchen, Ryan Richter*, Branko Boskovic (Stephen King 31st); Blake Brettschneider, Maicon Santos (Stefan Jerome* 43rd).

Second half: Joe Willis (Andrew Dykstra* 74th); Chris Korb (Charles Rodriguez* 64th), Sebastian Svard*, Emiliano Dudar (Josey Portillo**, 80th), Jed Zayner*; Seth C’deBaca*, Marcelo Saragosa*, Ryan Richter* (Conor Shanosky 64th), Stephen King; Blake Brettschneider (Lance Rozeboom* 71st), Stefan Jerome*.

*trialist

**guest player from Florida Gulf Coast University

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