JERUSALEM (Interstat) — Mac Kabilio Jaffa opened its Liga Leumit season with a decisive 3-1 victory over Hap Nof HaGalil on Friday night at Bloomfield Stadium, outperforming statistical projections in a match that saw the home side control the tempo from the outset.

The win gives Mac Kabilio Jaffa an early boost in the Israeli second division, starting the campaign with a perfect record, while Hap Nof HaGalil begins its season with a defeat.

The match’s first breakthrough came from the home side in the 22nd minute. Niv Fliter found the back of the net, giving Mac Kabilio Jaffa an early lead that they would not relinquish. The goal set the tone for a first half dominated by the hosts, who carried their one-goal advantage into halftime.

The pressure from Mac Kabilio Jaffa continued after the break, and it was Ronen Peretz who doubled the lead in the 52nd minute. The goal gave the home team a commanding 2-0 cushion and put the visiting side firmly on the back foot.

Hap Nof HaGalil managed to find a response just over ten minutes later, pulling a goal back in the 63rd minute through Yevgni Berkman. The goal provided a brief moment of hope for the visitors, cutting the deficit to a single goal and potentially shifting the momentum.

However, any hopes of a comeback were short-lived. Mac Kabilio Jaffa quickly reasserted its dominance, sealing the victory with a third goal. The final score of 3-1 reflected a convincing performance from the home team, who handled the late pressure from Hap Nof HaGalil effectively.

The result defied the pre-match simulation from Interstat, which had projected a 1-1 draw. The same outlet’s ELO rating system had given Mac Kabilio Jaffa a 67.5 percent probability of winning, a forecast the team comfortably exceeded with its three-goal output.

With the victory, Mac Kabilio Jaffa begins its Liga Leumit season with one win and zero losses. The club’s record across all competitions also stands at one win and zero losses. Hap Nof HaGalil starts its season in the competition with zero wins and one loss, a record that matches its standing in all competitions.

The match, contested between two teams with contrasting starts to their campaigns, sets an early benchmark in the Liga Leumit season. Mac Kabilio Jaffa will look to build on the momentum from this performance in its upcoming fixtures.