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 second-placed 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 play-offs between the champions of the Asean, Central, South and East Zones. The winner of the inter-zone play-offs will then take on the West Zone representative in the final of the AFC Cup.