DOOPing Overseas: Aaronson and Findlay star during festive fixture period, Martinez wins another trophy

The festive fixture period has brought many former Philadelphia Union players joy, with goals, assists, and even a trophy. While most leagues take lengthy breaks during the holidays, players in England and Scotland have multiple matches a week. Christmas week treated Brenden Aaronson very well, while Auston Trusty and Stuart Findlay continue to battle it out at the top of the Scottish Premiership table. 

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:

Brenden Aaronson (Medford, N.J.) – The former Union midfielder earned back-to-back starts for Leeds United during the Premier League’s festive fixtures. Aaronson started and played 77 minutes in a 4-1 win at home to Crystal Palace on Saturday, Dec. 1, and played the full 90 minutes in a 1-1 draw at Sunderland on Sunday. The 25-year-old was most notable against surprise side Sunderland over the weekend, earning Man of the Match. Aaronson’s biggest contribution was assisting Dominic Calvert-Lewin with the game-tying goal in the 47th minute. The American made a darting run down the right side and played a beautiful near-post pass to Calvert-Lewin, who made no mistake with a one-time finish. Aaronson created the most chances in the match (five), created two big chances and had one shot on target. 

Stuart Findlay – The former Union center back started both games for Hearts during Christmas week. Despite a 3-2 loss at Hibernian on Saturday, Findlay played a big role in helping Hearts beat Rangers 2-1 earlier in the week. The 30-year-old scored the opening goal against Rangers, powering a header to the back post off a corner kick. This was Findlay’s fourth goal of the season and first since scoring three goals in the first two games of the campaign. Hearts are still top of the Scottish Premiership table, three points ahead of Celtic and nine points ahead of Rangers, who both have a game in hand. 

Auston Trusty – The former Union center back helped Wilfried Nancy pick up his first two wins as Celtic manager over Christmas week. Trusty played 120 minutes across a 3-1 home win over Aberdeen on Sunday, Dec. 21, and a 4-2 road win over Livingston on Saturday. Last Sunday, Trusty completed 95 passes, the most by any player in the match, and registered a shot on target, as Celtic scored two late goals to earn a crucial three points. On Saturday, Trusty once again completed the most passes in a match (90) and was the game’s most accurate passer (96 percent). After going winless in Nancy’s first three league games as manager, Celtic sit just three points off first place. 

Jose Martinez – The former Union midfielder won the Copa do Brasil with Corinthians after a 2-1 road victory over Vasco da Gama in the second leg of the final. Martinez was a force in the midfield, making eight recoveries, four tackles, two interceptions and one clearance. His four tackles were the most by any player in the match, and he won five of his seven ground duels. Martinez’s crucial defensive intervention in his own half sprang Corinthians on a counter attack, where they would score the winning goal in the 63rd minute. Many fans in Brazil noted this was the 31-year-old’s best game in a Corinthians shirt. Martinez has now won two trophies during his year and a half in Brazil, also winning the Paulista A1. 

Other Notables 

– Leon Flach played all 90 minutes in Jagiellonia Bialystok’s scoreless Conference League draw at AZ Alkmaar on Thursday, Dec. 18.

– Mark McKenzie (Bear, Del.) completed 103 passes in a 2-1 Coupe de France win over Lyon La Duchere on Saturday, Dec. 20.

– Julian Carranza was an unused substitute for the ninth consecutive match for Leicester City in a 2-1 home loss to Watford on Friday.

What’s Next

– Julian Carranza and Leicester City travel to Sheffield United on New Year’s Day at 12:30 p.m. ET, before hosting West Brom on Monday, Jan. 5, at 3 p.m. ET.

– Auston Trusty and Celtic travel to Motherwell on Tuesday, Dec. 30, at 3 p.m. ET. They then host Rangers in the Old Firm Derby on Saturday, Jan. 3, at 7:30 a.m. ET.

– Brenden Aaronson and Leeds visit Liverpool on New Year’s Day at 12:30 p.m. ET. They then host Manchester United on Sunday, Jan. 4, at 7:30 a.m. ET. 

– Mark McKenzie and Toulouse host Lens on Friday, Jan. 2, at 2:45 p.m. ET.

– Stuart Findlay and Hearts host Livingston on Saturday, Jan. 3, at 10 a.m. ET.