DOOPing Overseas: Lowe avoids relegation on final day, Trusty left on bench for Scottish FA Cup Final

Welcome to the final instalment of DOOPing Overseas for the 2024-25 season. With many teams playing their last games last weekend, there were only a few former Union players who had games this weekend. While one player lost a cup final, another avoided relegation in dramatic fashion. There was also one former player who clinched a spot in the UEFA Europa Conference League next season, with another on the verge of doing the same.

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 fared in last week’s matches:

Damion Lowe – With two wins in their final two games, Lowe and Al Akhdoud avoided relegation by one point after a 3-2 win at Al Khaleej. Lowe’s side scored two goals in second half stoppage time, including the winner in the 15th added minute, to miraculously escape being relegated from the Saudi Pro League. The former Union center back featured in 22 of Al Akhdoud’s 34 league games during the 2024-25 season, but did not play in the final two matches of the season. Lowe led his team in interceptions (2.2) and clearances (6.1) per 90 minutes.

Auston Trusty – The former Union center back was an unused substitute during Celtic’s penalty shootout loss to Aberdeen in the Scottish FA Cup Final on Saturday.Trusty had a very successful first season in Scotland. He won his first major trophy – the Scottish Premiership title – and helped Celtic advance from the UEFA Champions League league phase. The 26-year-old started 22 league matches and nine Champions League matches for Celtic. Trusty was second on the team in accurate passes (105.5) and accurate long balls (2.9) per 90 minutes. Trusty saw less playing time in the second half of the season as he dealt with numerous injuries.

Leon Flach – The former Union midfielder played all 90 minutes in Jagiellonia Bialystok’s final match of the season, a 1-1 draw at home to Pogon Szczecin. The result clinched Flach’s side a spot in the UEFA Europa Conference League next season. Since leaving the Union in January, Flach featured in 13 matches during the 2024-25 Polish Ekstraklasa season and started all five of the games he played in the Conference League. Flach missed four matches in April and May with a leg injury. Next year will be Flach’s first full season in Poland.

Jose Martinez – The former Union midfielder started and played 66 minutes in Corinthians’ 0-0 draw at Atletico MG on Saturday. This was Martinez’s third consecutive start in the Brazilian Serie A. He made five recoveries and won four of his six ground duels. Martinez also came off the bench last Wednesday as Corinthians defeated Novorizontino in the third round of the Brazilian Cup. Martinez and Corinthians will visit Huracan in the Copa Sudamericana on Tuesday, May 27 at 8:30 PM ET.

Samuel Adeniran – The former Union striker played 59 minutes in the final game of the Austrian Bundesliga season on Friday, a 0-0 draw against Altach. Adeniran came off the bench for LASK on Monday during their first match of the Bundesliga UEFA Europa Conference League qualification playoffs against Hartberg. With a 2-0 win, Adeniran and LASK advanced to the playoff final where they will take on Rapid Wien over a two-legged series, with the aggregate winner clinching a spot in next year’s Conference League. The first leg is on Thursday, May 29 and the second leg is on Sunday, June 1.

Thanks for following along with DOOPing Overseas! While most former Union players will be off for the summer, excluding club friendlies and international games, Jose Martinez and Corinthians will continue to play in Brazil. Check back throughout the summer for transfer updates and news surrounding the former Union players playing overseas.