DOOPing Overseas International Edition: Danley scores and assists for Haiti, Blake doesn’t concede for Jamaica

Welcome to a special June international window edition of DOOPing Overseas! There were plenty of current and former Union players representing their nations during friendlies and World Cup qualifiers this past week. Union products at the U.S. youth level were the most impressive, with goals, assists, and clean sheets. Two current Union players made their senior U.S. Men’s National Team debuts, while veteran players past and present were integral to their country’s success in early June.

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 current and former Union players fared in the June international window:

Current Union Players

Danley Jean Jacques – The central midfielder played all 180 minutes during Haiti’s two World Cup qualifiers. Jean Jacques was by far the best player on the pitch in his country’s 5-0 win away to Aruba. The 25-year-old scored the opening goal of the game in the 29th minute, directing a difficult volley into the bottom corner. He assisted on the second goal just a few minutes later. Haiti lost its second match of the June international window, a 5-1 home defeat at the hands of Curacao. Haiti and Jean Jacques sit in second place in Group C of CONCACAF’s second round World Cup qualifiers.

Andre Blake – After a run of injuries, the Union goalkeeper was back healthy to lead Jamaica to two big wins. Blake made three saves during a 1-0 shutout win against the British Virgin Islands and two saves in a 3-0 shutout over Guatemala. The win over Guatemala lifted Jamaica into first place in Group E of CONCACAF’s second round World Cup qualifiers. 

Nathan Harriel – The versatile Union defender made his senior U.S. Men’s National Team debut on Saturday during a 2-1 loss to Turkiye. Harriel played 25 minutes and picked up a yellow card. He made his first start on Tuesday, playing all 90 minutes in a 4-0 loss to Switzerland. Harriel will be a part of the USMNT’s upcoming Gold Cup squad.

Quinn Sullivan – Another Union player who got his first senior USMNT cap on Saturday, Sullivan also played 25 minutes against Turkiye. Just like Harriel, the older Sullivan brother started against Switzerland, but only played the first half. Sullivan was one of six former Union Academy products to start Tuesday night’s match. He will also be a part of the USMNT Gold Cup roster. 

Cavan Sullivan – The younger Sullivan brother scored a goal for the Under-17s during a 3-0 win over Japan. Union Academy player Jamir Johnson added a brace in the game to round out a successful June Training Camp for the U17s.

Frankie Westfield – The Union defender was integral to the Under-20s’ 1-0 win over Colombia, helping the backline collect a clean sheet. Union Academy player Marcos Zambrano scored the only goal of the game. 

David Vazquez – The young Union product came off the bench to score the tying goal for the Under-19s in a 1-1 draw against Ukraine. Union players C.J. Olney and Sal Olivas both started the match. 

Former Union Players

Brenden Aaronson – The former Union midfielder only played 45 minutes during the USMNT’s two friendlies ahead of this month’s Gold Cup. Aaronson was left on the bench against Turkiye and started, alongside his brother, against Switzerland. 

Paxten Aaronson – The younger Aaronson followed the same path as his brother, being left on the bench in the first game and starting and playing 45 minutes in the second game. Per FotMob, Aaronson was the highest-rated starter (6.4) for the USMNT against Switzerland. 

Mark McKenzie – The former Union defender played the second half of Saturday’s game against Turkiye. He played all 90 minutes against Switzerland. McKenzie was the most accurate passer (68 of 70/97%) to play 45 minutes or more, but his defense left a lot to be desired in the 4-0 loss. 

Matt Freese – Now with NYCFC, the former Union goalkeeper received his first senior USMNT start on Saturday. He made three saves and conceded two goals; however, one was almost unsaveable, when USMNT midfielder Johnny Cardoso played a pass off of Turkiye’s Arda Guler that bounced into the net. Freese was an unused substitute on Tuesday night. 

Jack McGlynn – Now playing for the Houston Dynamo, the former Union midfielder was one of the lone bright spots for the USMNT during their two international friendlies. McGlynn started Saturday’s match with a bang, curling a beautiful shot into the far bottom corner from outside the box just one minute in. McGlynn played 65 minutes against Turkiye and did not feature against Switzerland.

Jose Martinez – The former Union midfielder started both of Venezuela’s CONMEBOL World Cup qualification games. He played 87 minutes in a 2-0 win over Bolivia, where he won the most duels (12) in the match. He played 56 minutes against Uruguay and received a yellow card. Venezuela sits seventh in the CONMEBOL table, four points out of an automatic World Cup qualifying spot.

Damion Lowe – The former Union defender played all 180 minutes in Jamaica’s World Cup qualifiers during the June international window. Lowe played central defensive midfield against the British Virgin Islands and played center back against Guatemala, helping his country record back-to-back clean sheets.

What’s Next

USMNT Gold Cup group stage games
-USA vs Trinidad and Tobago (Sunday, June 15 at 6 p.m. ET)
-USA vs Saudi Arabia (Thursday, June 19 at 9:15 p.m. ET)
-USA vs Haiti (Sunday, June 22 at 7 p.m. ET)

Current and former Union players include: Brenden Aaronson, Paxten Aaronson, Matt Freese, Nathan Harriel, Jack McGlynn, Mark McKenzie, and Quinn Sullivan

Jamaica Gold Cup group stage games
Jamaica vs Guatemala (Monday, June 16 at 10 p.m. ET)
Jamaica vs Guadeloupe (Friday, June 20 at 7:45 p.m. ET)
Jamaica vs Panama (Tuesday, June 24 at 7 p.m. ET)

Current and former Union players include: Andre Blake and Damion Lowe

Haiti Gold Cup group stage games
Haiti vs Saudi Arabia (Sunday, June 15 at 8:15 p.m. ET)
Haiti vs Trinidad and Tobago (Thursday, June 19 at 6:45 p.m. ET)
Haiti vs USA (Sunday, June 22 at 7 p.m. ET)

Current and former Union players include: Danley Jean Jacques and Fafa Picault

Check back following the completion of the Gold Cup for another special edition of DOOPing Overseas!