Hapoel Acre Opens Season With Convincing Victory Over Maccabi Herzliya

NAZARETH ILLIT, Israel (Interstat) — Hapoel Acre opened its Liga Leumit campaign with a decisive 3-1 victory over visiting Maccabi Herzliya on Monday at Green Stadium, defying pregame projections in a match that saw the home side control the second half.

The result, which came on April 6, 2026, handed Maccabi Herzliya a loss to start its season in Israel’s second division.

The match defied the expectations of statistical models. Interstat’s game simulator had projected a 2-1 win for Maccabi Herzliya, and its ELO rating system gave the visitors a slight edge with a 50.10 percent probability to win.

The first half was a tightly contested affair, with the breakthrough coming just after the half-hour mark. In the 34th minute, Hapoel Acre’s Ohad Brazilay found the net, giving the home side a 1-0 lead that would stand until the break.

Maccabi Herzliya responded strongly after halftime, leveling the score in the 64th minute through a goal from Saleh Husein. The equalizer briefly shifted momentum, but Hapoel Acre quickly reasserted control.

The home team’s reply was swift and effective. Just six minutes after Herzliya’s goal, in the 70th minute, Levan Kutalia restored Acre’s lead, making it 2-1. The goal galvanized the home side and deflated the visitors, who struggled to mount a sustained attack in the final twenty minutes of regulation.

As the match entered stoppage time, Hapoel Acre sealed the three points. Deep into added time, in the 90th+8 minute, Jefri Nisembaum netted the final goal, cementing the 3-1 scoreline.

The victory gives Hapoel Acre an immediate boost in the Liga Leumit standings, starting the season with a win. For Maccabi Herzliya, the loss marks a disappointing beginning to their league campaign. Both teams’ records across all competitions now mirror their opening-day league results.

The match was organized by the Liga Leumit, Israel’s second-tier football league.