TEL AVIV, Israel (Interstat) — In a Liga Leumit match that delivered late drama, Hapoel Ra’anana defeated Hapoel Acre 2-1 on Friday at Ramat Gan Stadium, completing a season sweep of its opponent.

The closely contested match, played before a sparse crowd, saw the decisive action unfold in the final 10 minutes of regulation. The victory moved Hapoel Ra’anana further from the relegation zone in Israel’s second division, while Hapoel Acre’s struggles continued as it searches for its first league win of 2026.

For much of the evening, the match was a tense, scoreless affair defined more by physical midfield battles than clear scoring opportunities. Both sides struggled to impose their attacking will, with the defenses largely in control. The stalemate was finally broken in the 82nd minute when Hapoel Ra’anana’s Michael Maman found the net, sending the home supporters into celebration with what appeared to be a decisive late winner.

The lead, however, was short-lived. Hapoel Acre, showing resilience despite a poor recent run of form, responded almost immediately. The equalizer came just minutes after Maman’s goal, stunning the home crowd and setting up a frantic finale.

Undeterred, Hapoel Ra’anana pressed forward and was rewarded with a second goal, the eventual game-winner, in the 89th minute. The late strike secured all three points for the hosts and extended Hapoel Acre’s winless streak in league play.

The result aligned with pregame projections from Interstat, whose game simulator had predicted a 2-1 victory for Hapoel Ra’anana. Their ELO rating system had given the home side a 59.90 percent probability to win.

With the win, Hapoel Ra’anana improved its Liga Leumit record to 9 wins, 10 losses and 8 draws this season. Its overall record across all competitions now stands at 11 wins, 11 losses and 8 draws. The team has found a measure of consistency, losing only once in its last five league outings.

For Hapoel Acre, the defeat marks another setback in a difficult campaign. The team’s Liga Leumit record fell to 5 wins, 8 losses and 11 draws, mirroring its overall record. The club has now failed to win in its last seven matches across all competitions, a streak dating back to mid-December. The loss also marked a reversal from the teams’ earlier meeting this season on Oct. 17, 2025, when Hapoel Ra’anana also won by a 2-0 scoreline.

Hapoel Ra’anana will look to build on this momentum when it travels to face Mac Kabilio Jaffa next Friday. Hapoel Acre, seeking to halt its slide, returns home to host Hap Nof HaGalil, also on Feb. 27.