Preseason match 1: United vs Chicago Fire
D.C. United traveled to Fort Myers, Fla. to take on the Chicago Fire at Florida Gulf Coast University in front of a sellout crowd of 1,800. The match marked the first test of the year for Ben Olsen and his players, who delivered a solid defensive performance and a clean sheet, as United tied 0-0 with the Fire.
“I was very pleased with the way the guys went about today,” said Head Coach Ben Olsen. “First and foremost, we’ve been preaching clean sheets and not giving up as many goals as we did last year. To get out of there without them [Chicago Fire] scoring is a big positive. Overall, it was a really good exercise today.”
D.C. United’s technical staff sent out a different team for each half. In the first half, the Black-and-Red stepped onto the field with Willis, Russell, Jakovic, McDonald, Woolard, Najar, Kitchen, Richter, Boskovic, Brettschneider and Maicon Santos. De Rosario was kept on the bench as a precautionary measure.
“DeRo took a little knock in his calf [during practice], so I was just being cautious with him,” said Olsen. “I would expect him to get sometime on Thursday against Malmo. I’m very cautious with everyone at this point, it’s not a time to push people.”
2012 preseason vs Chicago
In the second half, United put its trialists to test as the team faced the Fire with Willis, Korb, Svard [trialist], Dudar, Zayner [trialist], C’deBaca [trialist], Saragosa [trialist], Richter [trialist], King, Brettschneider and Jerome [trialist]. Supplemental Draft picks Rozeboom and Rodriguez also saw minutes in the second half, as well as Conor Shanosky.
The United coaches had the chance to see their newest acquisitions in action. Maicon Santos was active in the offensive end, holding up the ball and driving defenders out to create spaces for his teammates. Emiliano Dudar demonstrated his quality touch by setting up long balls for the wingers and taking a free kick at the top of the box, which forced Chicago’s goalkeeper Alec Kann to make a diving save.
“Maicon [Santos] did great, he held the ball up very well for us,” continued Olsen. “It was great to get [Emiliano] Dudar some minutes. He’s been out of action for a little bit, but each day he gets more comfortable here, more comfortable playing. We saw many good things out of him as well.”
D.C. United will resume training sessions on Monday ahead of the next preseason scrimmage against Swedish club Malmo FF on Thursday, February 2.
Scoring Summary
DC - none
CHI - none
Misconduct Summary:
DC -- Perry Kitchen (caution; Reckless Foul) 32
Lineups:
D.C. UNITED
First Half: Joe Willis; Robbie Russell (Chris Korb 30'), Brandon McDonald, Dejan Jakovic, Daniel Woolard; Andy Najar, Perry Kitchen, Ryan Richter [trialist], Branko Boskovic (Stephen King 30'); Blake Brettschneider, Maicon Santos (Stefan Jerome [trialist] 43')
Second Half: Joe Willis (Andrew Dykstra [trialist] 74'); Chris Korb (Charles Rodriguez [trialist] 64'), Sebastian Svard [trialist], Emiliano Dudar (Josey Portillo [guest player] 80'), Jed Zayner [trialist]; Seth C'deBaca [trialist], Marcelo Saragosa [trialist], Ryan Richter [trialist] (Conor Shanosky 64'), Stephen King; Blake Brettschneider (Lance Rozeboom [trialist] 71'), Stefan Jerome [trialist].
CHICAGO FIRE
Minutes 1 - 33: Woszczynski; Gargan, Anibaba, Gibbs, Segares; Pause, Pardo, Nyarko; Grazzini; Barouch, Oduro
Minutes 34 - 61: Tornaghi; Videira, Berry, Watson-Siriboe, Jumper; Paladini, Bone, Guerrero; Alex; Mkosana, Dube
Minutes 62 - 90: Kann; Okafor, Watson-Siriboe, Chavez, Pantazopoulos; Walls, Pineda, Pittaluga (Persad 78'); Restrepo; Frimpong, Gulley
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