Philadelphia Union
DOOPing Overseas: Trusty outduels Findlay for Scottish Premiership title, Adeniran makes history in Austria
For most Philadelphia Union players overseas, it was either the penultimate weekend or the final weekend of the season. The Union faithful would have had their eyes on the match between former center backs Stuart Findlay and Auston Trusty, with the latter coming out on top in the Scottish Premiership. Another trophy was lifted, with Samuel Adeniran making history with LASK on Sunday. Union fans will also be keeping an eye on news regarding Brenden Aaronson, who was forced off with an injury less than a month before the World Cup.
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 was crowned a Scottish Premiership champion for the second time in his career after Celtic’s 3-1 home win over Hearts on Saturday. Trusty played 73 minutes, making eight clearances and winning seven of his 10 aerial duels. Trusty got the better of another former Union center back, Stuart Findlay, who was a mainstay in Hearts’ backline all season. Celtic came into the final day needing to beat Hearts at Celtic Park to win the league; any other result would have crowned Hearts the champions for the first time since 1960. Celtic scored an 87th-minute winner and added a third goal on the final kick of the match. Trusty has now won the Scottish Premiership in each of his first two seasons in the league.
Samuel Adeniran – The former Union striker made history on Sunday, winning the Austrian Bundesliga with LASK, the team’s first league title since 1964-1965. Coming into the final day of the season, a win would secure the league for LASK, with any other result taking it out of their hands. LASK would cruise to a 3-0 win away to Austria Wien, with Adeniran scoring the second of his side’s three goals. In the 49th minute, Adeniran would fire home a penalty kick, beating the outstretched arms of the goalkeeper. The 27-year-old ended the campaign on fire, scoring in the final four games of the season, including a brace in the Austrian Cup Final. Adeniran finished the season with 15 goals and five assists in 35 games across all competitions.
Mark McKenzie (Bear, Del.) – The former Union center back had an abrupt end to his season when Toulouse’s match at Nantes was abandoned after 22 minutes. Ultras for the home side stormed the pitch, throwing flares and fighting with security, all in protest of the club’s relegation from France’s top flight. Players immediately rushed off the field, with the game being suspended by the referee. The match was ultimately abandoned. It is unclear whether or not the match will resume at a later date. Nantes’ relegation has long been confirmed, and Toulouse can only jump to ninth, but are well outside European contention. If this is the end of the season for Toulouse, McKenzie finished his second campaign in France with 28 starts in 30 league games, playing 2,427 minutes.
Other Notables
– Brenden Aaronson (Medford, N.J.) was forced off with an injury during Leeds United’s final home game of the season. The American played 60 minutes, but exited the pitch holding his hamstring.
– Stuart Findlay suffered a heartbreaking defeat at the hands of Celtic on the final day, losing the Scottish Premiership title by two points after being top for the entire season.
– Leon Flach was left on the bench for both of Jagiellonia Bialystok’s matches last week.
– Jamiro Monteiro made his first start since January 31, playing 77 minutes in PEC Zwolle’s 2-0 home loss to Feyenoord on Sunday.
– Neil Pierre (Lebanon, Pa) played the first half of Lyngby’s 3-1 home loss to Kolding IF on Friday.
What’s Next
– Auston Trusty and Celtic play Dunfermline Athletic in the Scottish FA Cup Final on Saturday, May 23, at 10 a.m. ET.
– Leon Flach and Jagiellonia Bialystok host Zaglebie Lubin on Saturday, May 23, at 11:30 a.m. ET, in the final game of the season.
– Brenden Aaronson and Leeds United travel to West Ham on Sunday, May 24, at 11 a.m. ET, for the final Premier League game of the season.
– Neil Pierre and Lyngby host AC Horsens on Monday, May 25, at noon ET.
