NETANYA, Israel (Interstat) — In a season-opening Ligat ha’Al match that defied pregame projections, Maccabi Netanya delivered a commanding 2-0 victory over Hapoel Tel Aviv on Saturday at Winner Stadium.

The result was a stark contrast to the statistical forecasts, which heavily favored the visitors. Interstat’s game simulator had predicted a 3-1 win for Hapoel Tel Aviv, and its ELO system gave the club a 54.40 percent probability of securing the victory. Instead, Netanya capitalized on a late red card to score twice in the final 20 minutes, securing a clean sheet and all three points.

The first half was a cagey, physical affair that produced more cautions than clear-cut chances. The match official’s notebook saw frequent use, with six yellow cards distributed before the break. The flurry began in the 26th minute when Netanya substitute Fernand Mayembo and Hapoel’s Falcão were both booked. Hapoel’s Yazen Nassar followed in the 28th minute, with Netanya’ Benny Feldman seeing yellow in the 34th. Gontie Diomande of Hapoel was the last to be cautioned in the 43rd minute, sending the teams into halftime locked in a scoreless, yet tense, stalemate.

The match’s pivotal moment arrived in the 69th minute. Netanya’s Mayembo, who had already been booked, received a second yellow card, reducing the home side to 10 men. Despite the numerical disadvantage, it was Netanya who broke the deadlock just two minutes later.

In the 71st minute, midfielder Omri Shamir initiated the play, finding defender Benny Feldman. Feldman’s subsequent pass found midfielder Maor Levi, who finished clinically to give the shorthanded hosts a 1-0 lead. The goal, against the run of play and manpower, shifted the momentum entirely in Netanya’s favor.

Hapoel Tel Aviv, unable to mount a sustained offensive threat against a resolute Netanya defense, saw their frustrations grow. Heriberto Tavares was shown a yellow card in the 81st minute as the visitors struggled to create meaningful opportunities.

As the match entered second-half stoppage time, Netanya sealed the victory. The play developed from a sequence involving substitutes Yazen Nassar and Falcão, who combined to find the influential Shamir. The midfielder, who had provided the assist on the opening goal, completed his standout performance by scoring himself in the 90+2 minute, putting the result beyond any doubt. Shamir was later booked in the 90+6th minute, a minor blemish on an otherwise perfect individual outing.

The final whistle confirmed a significant upset to open the Israeli top-flight season. Maccabi Netanya’s disciplined defensive performance, coupled with lethal efficiency in front of goal despite being a man down, secured a vital three points. For Hapoel Tel Aviv, the match was a disappointing start, as their pregame favoritism translated into neither goals nor points on the pitch.

Both clubs now hold identical 0-0 records in Ligat ha’Al play following the opening fixture. The records across all competitions for both sides also stand at 0-0.