DOOPing Overseas: Trusty subbed off with head injury, Adeniran tallies assist

While the Union enjoyed a 4-1 thumping of FC Cincinnati in the 2025 home opener this past weekend, former Blue and Gold players were trying to lead their teams to victory all across the globe. 

With sustained success this decade, fans have seen some of the brightest academy talents, their favorite players, and outcasts make their way overseas to compete in some of the best leagues in the world. The club is represented in Europe, South America, the Middle East and more.

Let’s see how some of those former Union players faired in last weekend’s matches: 

Auston Trusty – The former Union center back exited Celtic’s 5-2 win at St. Mirren in the 27th minute with a head injury. Trusty received five stitches after the match and is expected to recover, per Manager Brendan Rodgers. No clear timetable has been set for Trusty’s return but he is anticipated not to miss more than a few matches. While on the pitch last Saturday, the Media, PA native completed 35 of his 37 passes and held the home side scoreless. 

Samuel Adeniran – Just like his short-term Union career, Samuel Adeniran has not made much of an impression in the Austrian Bundesliga. The LASK striker was held without a goal contribution through his first three matches of the season. That changed last Sunday when Adeniran notched the game-winning assist in the 61st minute of LASK’s road victory over SK Austria Klagenfurt. Adeniran’s nifty cutback opened space for the striker to find Maximilian Entrup at the back post. The 26-year-old was subbed off three minutes later. 

Julian Carranza – The former Union striker was given the start in Feyenoord’s first match under new Head Coach Robin van Persie. Carranza has been thrust into a starting role in his first season for the Dutch side thanks to lengthy injuries to Santiago Gimenez and Ayase Ueda, with the former also transferring to AC Milan at the end of January. While Feyenoord had 72 percent possession in last Saturday’s home draw to NEC Nijmegen, Carranza and his teammates could not find the back of the net. The Argentinian was taken off in the 73rd minute, leaving the match with a 0.22 xG. 

Attention now shifts to Feyenoord’s Champions League Round of 16 fixture against Inter Milan on Wednesday. Carranza’s 73rd-minute header in the second leg of the Knockout Round Playoffs eliminated Italian giants AC Milan from Europe’s premier club competition. Even with the potential return of Ueda, Carranza is expected to play a role in this week’s first-leg match in Rotterdam. 

The Aaronsons – Both Aaronson brothers started for their respective clubs this past weekend. Brenden played 72 minutes in Leeds’ 1-1 draw against West Brom at Elland Road. The 24-year-old Brenden created the most chances (2) in the match but had just one touch in the opposition’s penalty area. Leeds still sits atop the Championship table with a three-point advantage over Sheffield United.

Paxten played 77 minutes in FC Utrecht’s 1-0 home win over NEC Breda. The 21-year-old was kept quiet for most of the match but did complete 90 percent of his passes. The younger Aaronson had played the full 90 minutes in the previous seven matches. Following Saturday’s win, Utrecht lept to third in the Eredivisie, jumping Carranza’s Feyenoord in the standings. 

Other Notables 

– Jose Martinez played 86 minutes in Corinthians’ 2-0 win over Mirassol. Also featuring in the match was former Union striker Matheus Davo, who played just 18 minutes for the club in 2021.

-Mark McKenzie anchored a Toulouse backline that kept a clean sheet away to Angers. The former Union center back completed 91 percent of his passes and won five of his seven ground and aerial duels. 

– Damion Lowe played all 90 minutes at left back for Al Akhdoud in a 1-1 road draw. Lowe and his defensive partners stymied a potent Al Ittihad attack led by 2022 Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema. 

– Leon Flach played 26 minutes in his seventh appearance for Jagiellonia Bialystok as the Polish side won 1-0.

What’s Next

– Julian Carranza and Feyenoord open a two-leg Champions League Round of 16 series against Inter Milan at 12:45 PM EST on Wednesday, March 5.

– Leon Flach and Jagiellonia Bialystok host Cercle Brugge in the first leg of the UEFA Conference League Round of 16 on Thursday, March 6 at 3:00 PM EST.

-Mark McKenzie and Toulouse will look to keep back-to-back clean sheets as they host fourth-place AS Monaco on Friday, March 7 at 2:45 PM EST.

-Jamiro Monteiro and PEC Zwolle will look to play spoilers in the Eredivisie as they host current leaders Ajax at 9:30 AM EST on Sunday, March 9.

Check back with DOOPing Overseas next week to see how these former Union players fared.