Al Suwaiq, Al Zawraa share points

DOHA: Iraq’s Al Zawraa and Omani club Al Suwaiq shared the points on Monday following a goalless stalemate in their 2017 AFC Cup Group A opener.

The Iraqis had enjoyed a home and away double over their visitors in their only previous meetings in the competition with 2-0 and 1-0 victories respectively at the 2009 edition, but the encounter at Grand Hamad Stadium proved a far tighter affair.

In a match of few chances, Al Zawraa striker Musafa Kareem had the two best, coming at either end of the second half. Kareem’s first was a right-footed shot narrowly wide on 51 minutes before he saw a header go close with 11 minutes remaining.

With Syrian side Al Jaish defeating Jordan’s Al Ahli 1-0 earlier on to put the inaugural champions in an early pole position, Al Zawraa and Al Suwaiq occupy second place in Group A two points further behind the 2004 winners.

In the West and Asean Zones, each group winner and the best secondplaced club among the three groups (total four teams) will qualify for the zonal semifinals. A West Zone final will be held to determine the region’s representative for the AFC Cup final. There will also be inter-zone playoffs between the champions of the Asean, Central, South and East Zones. The winner of the inter-zone playoffs will then take on the West Zone representative in the final of the AFC Cup.