MALE: Victory SC marked their return to the AFC Cup for the first time in two years with a goalless draw at home to Sriwijaya of Indonesia on Tuesday.

The Maldives side failed win a single game in their last appearance in 2008 as they finished bottom of their group.

But they made a solid start to this edition of the tournament against a Sriwijaya side that played in the AFC Champions League last season.

It was the Indonesians who settled quicker into this encounter at National Stadium and went close in the 11th minute but Rachmat Maruf’s effort was blocked by goalkeeper Mohamed Faisal before the forward fired the rebound over the bar.

The visitors continued to dominate possession but Victory successfully soaked up the pressure before embarking on an attack of their own in the 23rd minute when Hussain Shimaz's goalbound effort was denied by a defender.

Shimaz again threatened five minutes later when he beat his marker but saw his effort denied by the goalkeeper before Mukhthar Naseer shot wide from the rebound.

Just after the half hour Hassan Adham used his skill to work himself some space before unleashing a drive that flew just inches wide of the target.

Keith Gumbs shot wide for Sriwijaya a minute after the restart while Astaman Ponaryo struck an effort from distance that failed to trouble the Victory goalkeeper.

It was then Naseer’s turn to try his luck from distance in the 62nd minute but his show flew just over the bar.

With time running out, both sides upped the tempo in a bid to snatch a goal that would undoubtedly have decided the match and Victory had the crossbar to thank in the 76th minute when Zah Rahan Krangar's powerful drive rattled the woodwork.

Ismail Easa compounded to do the same at the other end of the pitch with his superb long-range shot smashing the bar in the 85th minute seconds before Naseer latched onto a smart through ball from Ismail Mohamed but his tame effort failed to trouble the goalkeeper.

That proved to be the last chance of note for either side leaving perhaps the visitors the happier of the two sides with the result.