ACRE, Israel (Interstat) — Hapoel Acre and Hap Ram HaSharon opened their Liga Leumit campaigns with a 1-1 draw on Monday afternoon at Acre Municipal Stadium, a result that defied pregame statistical projections favoring the hosts.

The match, a season opener for both Israeli second-division sides, was settled by a dramatic late equalizer deep into second-half stoppage time. The visitors from Ram HaSharon struck first, taking the lead just after the halftime interval. In the 52nd minute, Nir Barda found the net to give the underdogs a surprising advantage on the road.

That goal set the tone for a tense and defensive second half as Hapoel Acre pressed for an equalizer against a resolute Hap Ram HaSharon defense. The home side’s efforts appeared destined to fall short as the match entered added time. However, in the third minute of stoppage time, Mohammed Adams delivered for the hosts, scoring to level the match and salvage a point in front of the home supporters.

The final whistle blew shortly after the restart, confirming the share of the points. The outcome was a notable divergence from the pregame analytics. Interstat’s game simulator had projected a 2-1 victory for Hap Ram HaSharon, while its ELO rating system gave Hapoel Acre an 80.10 percent probability to win outright. Neither forecast accounted for the gritty, deadlocked affair that unfolded.

With the result, both teams begin their 2025-26 Liga Leumit seasons with identical records: zero wins, zero losses and one draw. Their overall records across all competitions also stand at 0-0-1. The draw provides each club with its first point of the new campaign as they look to build momentum in the coming weeks.

The match at the seaside Acre Municipal Stadium sets an early tone of parity in the league, demonstrating the unpredictable nature of opening-day fixtures. For Hap Ram HaSharon, the performance and point earned on the road against a favored opponent will be viewed as a positive start. For Hapoel Acre, the late rally to avoid a home defeat provides a foundation, but the failure to secure a victory despite heavy pregame favoritism will leave room for reflection.