Kathmandu: Palestine and Turkmenistan remained locked in a stalemate in Saturday's Group A match of the Challenge Cup 2012 played at the Halchowk Rangasala, Kathmandu, Nepal.
Ahmed Mahajna returned to the backline for Palestine, alongside Murad Said, after completing his one-match ban that saw him miss the match against Nepal.
Both the keepers had to put in an extra effort to keep a clean sheet as Turkmenistan tormented the rival defence for most of the first half, while Palestine put in a revived performance for the remainder of the match.
Just before half time, however, Palestine were denied a goal by the offside flag raised against Fahed Attal who also got himself booked for playing after the whistle was blown against him.
The first real chance fell to Al-Fursan in the 52nd minute when Turkmen goalie Rahmanberdi Alyanov failed to cleanly collect a cross from Attal but Gharyman Chonkayev was equally alert to avert the danger ahead of Palestine striker Alla Atya.
Alyanov, however, made up for his earlier fumble when he pulled off a vital save to deny Palestine a possible winner in the 63rd minute, as the keeper dived to the left top corner of his post to keep Abdulhamid Abuhabib's curling free-kick from entering the net.
Turkmenistan tried for a late winner, but Ruslan Mingazov wasn't able to make the best of Gauvanch Abylov's cross in the 70th minute.
Minutes earlier, Palestine goalkeeper Tawfiq Abuhammad had punched clear a powerfully taken set-piece by Gahryman Ghonkayev.
To top it off, Gahryman will miss Turkmenistan's next match against hosts Nepal on account of being booked, while Palestine will face Maldives in the last round of group A matches on Monday.
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