Ismaili reached the Arab Champions League (ACL) quarter-final after thrashing 10-man USM Alger 4-1 on Sunday to advance with a comprehensive 7-2 aggregate win. The Dervishes, who defeated Alger 3-1 in the first-leg at home, proved far superior to their opponents to book a last-eight berth. In-form Iraqi striker Mostafa Karim opened the scoring three minutes before the break. Matters went from bad to worse for Alger when keeper Mohamed Amine Zemmamouche received his marching orders just before the half-time whistle. He was sent-off for handling the ball outside the area to deny Karim a certain goal. But from the resulting free-kick, playmaker Abdullah Saied doubled Ismaili's advantage with a delightful effort. Isaad Bourahli kept Alger's slight hopes alive when he narrowed the gap in the 71st minute. However, Saied scored his second of the night three minutes from time to kill off the hosts and talented winger Omar Gamal completed the rout in stoppage time. A quarter-final draw will determine Ismaili's next opponents in the ACL.
