NAZARETH ILLIT, Israel (Interstat) — Hapoel Acre opened its Liga Leumit season with a 3-1 victory over Maccabi Herzliya on Monday at Green Stadium, defying pregame projections.

Ohad Brazilay gave the hosts the lead in the 34th minute. Saleh Husein doubled Hapoel Acre’s advantage in the 64th, and Levan Kutalia made it 3-0 in the 70th. Maccabi Herzliya’s Jefri Nisembaum scored a consolation goal in the eighth minute of second-half stoppage time.

The result handed Hapoel Acre a winning start in league play, while Maccabi Herzliya began with a loss. The outcome overturned a statistical projection that favored the visitors.