Omri Glazer's homecoming at Maccabi Haifa hit its first real setback on Tuesday, with the goalkeeper carried off in tears after twisting his knee during the club's Toto Cup trip to Ironi Kiryat Shmona, ONE reports.
The incident happened in the 23rd minute with the Greens already trailing 2-0. According to ONE, Glazer's own teammate, the Brazilian defender Wanderson "Tsunami," accidentally caught him as the two competed near the goal, and the goalkeeper twisted his knee awkwardly in the collision.
Glazer needed treatment from Magen David Adom paramedics on the pitch before he could be moved, and ONE describes him leaving the field in tears, unable to continue. He was withdrawn immediately and taken straight down the tunnel.
Young goalkeeper Glen Alwyn came on to replace him — an unplanned, high-pressure introduction for the 18-year-old, who only recently earned a place on Maccabi Haifa's first-team bench after coming through the club's academy.
The timing stings. Glazer, an Israel international, returned to Maccabi Haifa this summer on a three-year contract, rejoining the club where he made his name before spells at Hapoel Be'er Sheva and, most recently, Red Star Belgrade in Serbia.
Tuesday's tie was already a chance for Barak Bachar to reset after an underwhelming start to the Toto Cup, in which Maccabi Haifa lost the Haifa derby 3-2 to Hapoel Haifa in their opening group game. Bachar had again turned to his summer arrivals, starting Tsunami alongside fellow new signings Bruninho and Nigel Lonwijk.
ONE's report does not give a diagnosis or an expected recovery timeline for Glazer — the club is yet to confirm the extent of the damage, and scans are expected to follow before any timetable is set.
For now, the club and its supporters are left waiting anxiously on the results, with a goalkeeper who had barely settled back into the dressing room facing the prospect of missing the start of the new Ligat Ha'al season.
