Naft Misam and Al-Joulan played out a 0:0 draw in the Iraqi League's Regular Season opener on Thursday 14 August. The match ended without goals despite both sides registering attacks throughout. Naft Misam, sitting 19th with three points from five games, failed to break down an Al-Joulan side that sits eighth with eight points.
The statistics tell a slightly uneven story. Al-Joulan recorded 82 attacks against 66 for Naft Misam, but the hosts earned seven corners to their opponents' three. Naft Misam collected five yellow cards compared to Al-Joulan's three, suggesting a more physical approach from the home side.
For Naft Misam, this result extends a winless run. They have drawn three and lost two of their opening five fixtures without finding the net in this campaign. Their recent form from the previous season included victories over Garraf and An-Nasr, but those results are a distant memory now.
Al-Joulan's position is more comfortable. Two wins and two draws from five games puts them in the upper half of the table. A goalless away result does little to trouble their standing, though they will have wanted to convert pressure into goals given their attacking superiority.
The match offered little in the way of decisive moments. With neither side able to find the net, the points were shared. Naft Misam remain rooted to the bottom of the table, while Al-Joulan hold firm in eighth place.
