A keenly-awaited clash ended in a damp squib as last season’s runners-up Muharraq were held to a goalless draw by Riffa in a first round match of the Nasser bin Hamad Premier League held at Khalifa Sports City Stadium in Isa Town yesterday.
The match saw Riffa, who finished third last season, missing a number of opportunities to score. Their defenders, however, rose to the occasion and foiled Muharraq’s attempts to kick off their campaign on a winning note.
In the second match of the evening, held at Al Ahli Club Stadium in Mahooz, last season’s second division league winners Malkiya held Al Ahli 1-1.
Sayed Hashem Adnan scored for Malkiya while Issa Ghaleb found the net for Ahli.
The first round ended yesterday and the second round matches will start on Monday.