<div><img style="" class="img-responsive" src="https://www.qsl.qa/sites/default/files/DABS1048_0.JPG&quot; alt="Alt" title="" /></div>
<p>Promoted Al Markhiya held formidable Al Sadd to a goalless draw in Week 12 of the QNB Stars League on Saturday.</p><p>Al Sadd now have 28 points as do Al Rayyan who posted a 3-0 win over Al Khor earlier in the day. Nevertheless, Al Sadd stayed second on better goal difference.</p><p>With Al Sadd’s Qatar internationals back for club duty following their Gulf Cup assignment in Kuwait, the match got off to a fast-paced start as Al Markhiya also made quick moves.</p><p>In the sixth minute, Al Markhiya’s Rebin Ghareeb showed amazing speed to block a cross by Al Sadd’s Algerian import Jugurtha Hamroun towards team-mate Bualem Khoukhi who was stationed inside the box. It would have been an easy defection from close range, but Ghareeb outpaced Khoukhi to stop the dangerous move.</p><p>That was before Hamroun created a couple of chances.</p><p>Two minutes from the half-time whistle, Al Markhiya captain Bilal Mohammed nearly pulled off a stunner with a snap-header off a free-kick. Bilal’s header slipped past the Al Sadd crossbar. </p><p>Four minutes into the second half, Al Markhiya’s Burkina Faso striker Alain Traore whipped a 30M bullet, but it went out after kissing the goalpost.</p><p>Minutes later, Al Sadd keeper Saad Al Dossari twice blocked shots that were headed towards the goal.</p><p>Al Markhiya’s Ghanaian import Kwame Karikari unleashed a powerful shot past two defenders in the 70th only to see the ball sail above the bar.</p>