DOOPing Overseas: Trusty scores in the Europa League again, Findlay, McKenzie and Wagner record clean sheets

It was a matchweek all about defense for Union alums overseas, with two center backs and a left back helping their respective teams record clean sheets. Auston Trusty scored another Europa League goal while multiple players returned to action following a long winter break. 

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:

Auston Trusty – The former Union center back scored in Celtic’s 4-2 Europa League win over FC Utrecht on Thursday. Up 3-2 in the 66th minute, Trusty would restore Celtic’s two-goal advantage with another goal from a corner. The American got in front of his man and headed home an in-swinging cross into the top corner. This was the 27-year-old’s second goal in as many weeks after scoring off corners in back-to-back Europa League games for the Scottish side. Trusty’s goal helped Celtic secure a spot in the competition’s playoff round. 

Mark McKenzie (Bear, Del.) – The former Union center back has helped Toulouse record consecutive clean sheets since his return from a foot injury. McKenzie played all 90 minutes in a 0-0 draw with Auxerre on Sunday. The 26-year-old won eight of his 10 duels, made five recoveries, four clearances and two interceptions. Toulouse are now tied for second in Ligue 1 with eight clean sheets and sit just two points out of a Champions League qualification spot. 

Stuart Findlay – The former Union center back started for Hearts in a 3-0 win over Dundee United on Saturday. Findlay made seven clearances, three recoveries and one interception. He won four of his six duels and completed 41 of his 46 passes (89 percent). Hearts have 12 clean sheets in 24 Scottish Premiership matches this season as they continue their dominance at the top of the table, sitting six points ahead of Trusty’s Celtic. 

Kai Wagner – The former Union left back has started all six matches for Birmingham City since joining the EFL Championship side in early January. Wagner helped his side keep a clean sheet away to Oxford United on Saturday, winning 2-0. Wagner won seven of his 10 duels, made three tackles and interceptions, had two recoveries and one clearance. The attacking fullback created one big chance and had 15 passes into the final third. Birmingham have not lost since Wagner’s arrival and are now five points out of a promotion qiualification spot. 

Other Notables

– Brenden Aaronson (Medford, N.J.) started and played 71 minutes in a 4-0 home loss to Premier League leaders Arsenal on Saturday.

– Jamiro Monteiro started but was substituted at halftime during PEC Zwolle’s 4-1 win over Telstar on Saturday.

– Leon Flach played just nine minutes as a substitute in Jagiellonia Bialystok’s 3-1 win at Widzew Lodz on Saturday.

– Samuel Adeniran played 75 minutes in LASK’s 3-2 Austrian Cup triumph over rivals BW Linz on Friday. 

– Julian Carranza was suspended for Necaxa’s match on Saturday, a 2-0 road loss to Club America. 

What’s Next

– Stuart Findlay and Hearts travel to St. Mirren on Tuesday, Feb. 3, at 3 p.m. ET.

– Leon Flach and Jagiellonia Bialystok host GKS Katowice on Wednesday, Feb. 4, at 2:30 p.m. ET. They then host Motor Lublin on Saturday, Feb. 7, at 11:30 a.m. ET.

– Mark McKenzie and Toulouse host Amiens in the Coupe de France Round of 16 on Wednesday, Feb. 4, at 2:30 p.m. ET. They then travel to Angers on Sunday, Feb. 8, at 11:15 a.m. ET.

– Auston Trusty and Celtic visit Aberdeen on Wednesday, Feb. 4, at 3 p.m. ET. They then host Dundee FC in the fifth round of the Scottish Cup on Saturday, Feb. 7, at 12:30 p.m. ET.

– Kacper Przybylko and Odra Opole return from a multi-month winter break to host Pogon Siedlce on Friday, Feb. 6, at noon ET.

– Brenden Aaronson and Leeds United host Nottingham Forest in a Premier League relegation battle on Friday, Feb. 6, at 3 p.m. ET.

– Julian Carranza returns from suspension as Necaxa hosts San Luis on Friday, Feb. 6, at 8 p.m. ET.

– Kai Wagner and Birmingham City host Leicester City on Saturday, Feb. 7, at 10 a.m. ET.

– Samuel Adeniran and LASK host WSG Tirol on Saturday, Feb. 7, at 11 a.m. ET.

– Jamiro Monteiro and PEC Zwolle host FC Volendam on Saturday, Feb. 7, at 12:45 p.m. ET.

– Mikael Uhre and FC Midtjylland host FC Kobenhavn on Sunday, Feb. 8, at 10 a.m. ET.