DOOPing Overseas: Leon Flach returns to action, Adeniran & Monteiro find the scoresheet

It is crunch time for Philadelphia Union players overseas, with league titles coming down to the final days, safety and promotion being secured and players returning from long-term injuries at the perfect time. Three former Union players will have chances to win their respective league titles this week. With a win, Samuel Adeniran and LASK will lift the Austrian Bundesliga for the first time in over six decades. Stuart Findlay and Auston Trusty both have a chance to win the Scottish Premiership, with Findlay and Hearts having a slight advantage over Trusty and Celtic, but the league could come down to a final-day title decider between the two.

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:

Leon Flach – The former Union midfielder returned to action for Jagiellonia Bialystok on Saturday, playing eight minutes as a substitute in a 3-2 home win over Pogon Szczecin. Flach was sidelined for more than two months with a knee injury. His last appearance came on March 1st. Flach is the most recent former Union player to come back from a lengthy knee injury in a matter of weeks, with Jamiro Monteiro returning to the pitch last week. The 25-year-old will be fit for the final three matches of the season as Jagiellonia Bialystok sit second in the league, seven points out of first with a game in hand. 

Samuel Adeniran – The former Union striker continued his great scoring form, finding the back of the net for a third consecutive game in LASK’s 2-1 home win over Red Bull Salzburg on Sunday. Adeniran would open the scoring in the 33rd minute. The American was the first to react to a flicked header off a long throw, glancing his header past a flat-footed keeper. This was Adeniran’s fourth goal in his last three appearances, and his ninth goal of the Austrian Bundesliga season. With one game to go, LASK sits two points ahead in first place. A road win against Austria Wien on the final day of the season would see LASK lift their first league title since 1964-65. If Adeniran’s side drops points, a Sturm Graz win would see the title slip from LASK’s hands in heartbreaking fashion. 

Jamiro Monteiro – The former Union midfielder registered an assist in his second appearance back from a two-month injury absence for PEC Zwolle. Despite the 3-2 loss at Fortuna Sittard, Monteiro made an immediate impact as a second-half substitute. In the 75th minute, the 32-year-old received the ball in the center circle and floated a perfectly-weighted pass over the backline, sending Gabriel Reiziger through on goal. The 20-year-striker made no mistake, chipping the keeper from close range. This was Monteiro’s first goal contribution since recording an assist on January 24. The Cape Verde international, who is now fit for the World Cup, has two goals and three assists in 22 Eredivisie matches this campaign. 

Neil Pierre (Lebanon, PA) – The on-loan Union center back helped Lyngby earn promotion to the Danish top flight with a 2-0 road win over Hvidovre on Saturday. While Pierre has made a name for himself as a goal scorer at Lyngby, his performance on Saturday was all about defending. The 18-year-old won all eight of his aerial duels, made seven clearances, five recoveries, and four interceptions, helping his side keep a clean sheet. With three games to go, Lyngby secured promotion to the Danish Superligaen. With Pierre’s loan ending this summer, it is unknown if the American will return to Lyngby next season, whether that be through a loan or a permanent transfer. 

Other Notables

– Brenden Aaronson (Medford, N.J.) played 63 minutes in Leeds United’s 1-1 draw at Tottenham on Monday. Thanks to other results around the grounds over the weekend, Aaronson and Leeds secured Premier League safety this season.

– Stuart Findlay played 90 minutes in Hearts’ 1-1 draw at Motherwell on Sunday, moving one point closer to a historic Scottish Premiership title. 

– Mark McKenzie (Bear, Del.) made eight clearances and five recoveries as 10-man Toulouse defeated Lyon on Sunday.

– Auston Trusty played all 90 minutes as Celtic beat Rangers, 3-1, in the Old Firm Derby to keep the pressure on Hearts at the top of the Scottish Premiership table. 

What’s Next

– Leon Flach and Jagiellonia Bialystok travel to Raków Częstochowa for a crucial Polish Ekstraklasa match on Wednesday, May 13, at 2:30 p.m. ET. They then visit GKS Katowice on Sunday, May 17, at 8:30 a.m. ET.

– Stuart Findlay and Hearts host Falkirk in the penultimate match of the season on Wednesday, May 13, at 3 p.m. ET. With a win and a Celtic loss, Hearts would be crowned champions. They then visit Celtic on Saturday, May 16, at 7:30 a.m. ET, in what could be one of the biggest matches Scotland has ever seen.

– Auston Trusty and Celtic travel to Motherwell on Wednesday, May 13, at 3 p.m. ET, needing a point to keep their season alive if Hearts win their game. They then host Hearts in a potential title-deciding game on Saturday, May 16, at 7:30 a.m. ET.

– Neil Pierre and Lyngby visit Kolding IF on Friday, May 15, at noon ET.

– Samuel Adeniran and LASK travel to Austria Wien on Sunday, May 17, at 8:30 a.m. ET, where a win would crown them champions on the final day of the Austrian Bundesliga season.

– Jamiro Monteiro and PEC Zwolle finish their season with a home match against Feyenoord on Sunday, May 17, at 8:30 a.m. ET.

– Brenden Aaronson and Leeds host Brighton in their final home game of the season on Sunday, May 17, at 10 a.m. ET. 

– Mark McKenzie and Toulouse travel to Nantes in their final game of the Ligue 1 season on Sunday, May 17, at 3 p.m. ET.