KFAR SABA, Israel (Interstat) — In a frenetic and unpredictable season opener, Hapoel Kfar Saba and Hapoel Afula played to a wild 3-3 draw Monday afternoon in Liga Leumit action at Levita Stadium, defying pregame projections that heavily favored the home side.

The match, which kicked off the second-tier campaign for both clubs, exploded into life early and never relented, featuring six goals, a stunning equalizer seconds after a go-ahead score, and a dramatic late leveler to share the points.

The contest began perfectly for the visiting Afula squad, which stunned the home crowd by taking a lead in the seventh minute. Niv Tubul found the net to give the underdogs an early advantage and immediately shift pressure onto Hapoel Kfar Saba.

That pressure told in the 21st minute when Mbombo Kule equalized for Kfar Saba, restoring a sense of order for the presumed favorites. That order was shattered almost instantly from the ensuing kickoff. In a remarkable sequence, Afula’s Ben Ezer Cohen scored just one minute later, in the 22nd minute, to immediately reclaim the lead at 2-1 and stun the stadium into silence once more.

Kfar Saba responded again before halftime, with Julio César scoring his first goal of the afternoon in the 33rd minute to send the teams into the break deadlocked at 2-2.

The second half saw the home team seize control of the scoreline for the first time. Snir Talias put Kfar Saba ahead 3-2 in the 62nd minute, a goal that seemed it might finally confirm the pregame statistics. Interstat’s game simulator had projected a far more conservative 1-1 final score, while its ELO rating system gave Kfar Saba an 83.80 percent probability to win outright.

Afula, however, refused to conform to the projections. As the match entered its final stages, Julio César struck again for Kfar Saba, but this time into his own net. An own goal by the defender in the 84th minute handed Afula a lifeline and completed the scoring at 3-3, ensuring both teams would take a point from the opening fixture.

The result leaves both teams with identical records to start the Liga Leumit season: zero wins, zero losses and one draw. Their overall records across all competitions also mirror each other. The match served as a stark reminder of the unpredictable nature of football, where statistical advantages and home-field support can be undone by moments of individual brilliance and calamity.

The six-goal thriller sets an early standard for drama in the league and provides both squads with positives and clear areas for improvement as they move forward in their campaigns. For Afula, the resilience to twice lead and then secure a late draw on the road against a favored opponent will build confidence. For Kfar Saba, the ability to fight back on three occasions shows offensive potency, but the defensive lapses, including the crushing late own goal, will give the coaching staff much to analyze.