Al Duhail played out a goalless draw with Al Markhiya in the opener of Week 16 of the 2023-2024 season Expo Stars League at the Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium of Al Duhail club on Tuesday.

Defending champions Al Duhail, despite hard efforts, could not force the issue against a rejuvenated Al Markhiya. Both sides had some good chances and Al Markhiya more so towards the end, but they too could not force the issue.

The Red Knights now have a tally of 19 points, while Al Markhiya with the additional point moved to eight points.

While Al Markhiya played like a team possessed especially in the opening half, Al Duhail tried to come back stronger in the more exciting second session, but suffered due to lack of cohesiveness and finishing.

Immediately after the half-time break (46th minute), Al Duhail had a heart-stopping moment when Khaled Mohammed, after receiving a back heel pass from Michael Olunga, made a telling long diagonal kick from outside the box, but the ball touched the fingertips of a diving Al Markhiya goalkeeper Oumar Barry before going on to hit the top corner of the right post.

Later in the 81st minute, Al Duhail had a good move when Almoez Ali moved the ball to Philippe Coutinho, who provided a good assist to an incoming Isaac Lihadji, but he missed the target with the ball just missing the bottom right post.

Al Markhiya too rued a double chance to strike in the 85th minute when substitute Muayed Hassan dashed into the box and struck from the right, but a flying Al Duhail goalkeeper Shehab Ellethy made a superb save with his outstretched right hand. The action continued as Al Markhiya again won the ball and it fell to Muayed in front of the goal, but his kick hit the crossbar and fell away.

More chances came Al Markhiya’s way towards the end when in the 87th minute Yusupha Nije’s strike was cut off by Al Duhail goalkeeper.

In the dying seconds of the seven minutes added time, an Al Duhail header from a corner kick sailed just over the crossbar and into the overhead net.