Al Markhiya draw 0-0 with Kharaitiyat

Al Markhiya and Al Kharaitiyat played out a goalless draw in the QNB Stars League at the Al Arabi Stadium yesterday. For returning Al Markhiya coach Yousef Adam, it was important to see his side put up a strong performance but he will be aware that they just lacked that killer touch in front of goal.A quiet first half saw few chances with Al Kharaitiyat going closest to taking the lead. An excellent run down the left by Mahmoud Abdelhalim led him into the box before finding Rachid Tiberkanine free with a perfectly-timed cross. Unfortunately, the reliable Rachid was unable to keep his head down and missed the target from close range. The second half proved to be much more entertaining from the offset with a flurry of chances from either side. Some great interchanges between Kwame Karikari and Alain Traore nearly produced the game’s first goal on several occasions, with both seeing their shots drift wide from distance.Al Markhiya’s Qatari youngster Nasser al-Nasr put up a particularly-impressive performance which would have been rounded off perfectly had he not been denied by Ahmed Abonora while shooting from a tight angle. Although Al Markhiya had largely dominated, it was Al Kharaitiyat who applied the pressure late on with a string of excellent saves from Al Markhiya’s Mohamed Muntazar. While he denied Rachid a couple of times, he saved the best for last as his superb reactions prevented Josue Mohy from claiming the points at the death to finish the match 0-0.