Ismaili are very close to the CAF Cup quarter finals group stage after beating Moroccan champions Wydad Casablanca 1-0 on Sunday night. Omar Gamal scored the only goal of the game at the 13th minute to grab his team the full points of the match before the return leg takes place in two weeks time at home. The home side could have opened the score very early in the game as Hakim Ajraoui blasted wide a rebound from keeper Mohamed Fathi. Ismaili also attempted to fashion an opening with their familiar short, sharp passes but the breakthrough came with a simple long pass in the area to Gamal, whose deviated shot misled the Moroccan keeper to put the Egyptians in front. He could have made it two but he was too slow to score connect with Abdullah Al-Saied's cross after the latter escaped from his marker.
The Dervishes started the second period with more pressure and a shot from Hosni Abd-Rabou saw Wydad's keeper tip the midfielder's drive over the crossbar. Wydad, who were shocked by the early goal, started slowly to get the upper hand in the match as Ismaili were turning a little more cautious in order to conserve their lead. Wydad's best chance was at the 65th minute when Mohamed Borji found himself face to face with the Egyptian keeper but Fathi excelled to save the day for his team. A few seconds before the end of the game substitute Mohamed Fadl lost a golden chance of securing the qualification but he missed the target from close range after getting past the whole defense. The return leg is set to be played in Ismailia on May 20th. It shouldn't be a tough mission for the Egyptians who will play in front of their crowd.
