Former RBNY Designated Player Omer Damari has found the back of the net for the first time in ages.
Now a member of Maccabi Haifa after joining the team on loan from Red Bull Leipzig in early January, Damari earned the start at FW against Maccabi Tel-Aviv in Ligat Ha'al (the Israeli Premier League). In the 12th minute, Damari hit paydirt, earning his first goal as a member of the Israeli outfit and his first since his lone goal for the Red Bulls back in August 2016.
12' Omer Damari makes it 1:0 Haifa
— Maccabi Tel-Aviv (@MaccabiTLVFC) January 30, 2017
Omer Damari's time with the New York Red Bulls was short and not-quite-sweet. Damari signed with the Red Bulls on a loan spell with the team in early-August and was given the team's third DP slot. He made his debut as a late-game sub against Montreal Impact on August 13 and would score the equalizing goal in a 1-1 draw against Alianza FC in a crucial CONCACAF Champions League match on August 17 - a goal that would ultimately be his only for RBNY.
Unfortunately, the same injuries that plagued him at both RBs Leipzig and Salzburg followed him to the United States and it caused him to miss a large portion of the little time he had to make an impact for RBNY.
Damari would appear in just six games between August and October 2016, with his final appearance in the Red Bulls uniform coming in an 11-minute cameo during the first leg of the playoffs against Montreal Impact before earning a straight red card and missing the 2nd-leg losing effort. He never earned a start under Jesse Marsch and played a grand total of 109 minutes in the RBNY uniform.
Ultimately, the timing for bringing Damari to Red Bull Arena just wasn't right, but he played a role in helping the Red Bulls clinch their first-ever spot in the CCL Quarter-Finals. But he seems to have already found a niche for himself back in his home country and all we can do is wish him continued luck with Maccabi Haifa.
His team certainly needs a boost. Prior to Damari's first goal for his new club, Maccabi Haifa was on a five-game losing streak and had not scored in its last four competitive matches. The game against Maccabi Tel Aviv ended 2-2 - which is Maccabi Haifa's first league point since mid-December.
למרות התיקו. כל הכבוד לבחורים בירוק: https://t.co/p0XF3urAB0 pic.twitter.com/CnLIEjrCuv
— Maccabi Haifa FC (@mhfootballclub) January 30, 2017
Perhaps Damari and his team have found the turnaround they both need.