Ismaili slumped to a 1-0 defeat at Tamponnaise of Reunion Island on Saturday but clung on to reach the Champions League round of 16 with a narrow 3-2 aggregate victory. The troubled club won the first leg 3-1 at home but endured some nervous moments in the return leg. Mamadou Diallo put Tamponnaise in front in the 31st minute after a defensive lapse allowed him to break clear and slot the ball home with aplomb. The hosts needed to score again to go through on the away goals rule and Ismaili's cause was not helped by the dismissal of defender Ahmed Hegazi, who was sent off for a second bookable offense with 15 minutes remaining. But Ismaili, who missed Egypt keeper Essam Al-Hadari after he pulled out of the game due to personal reasons, held onto their slender advantage to book a last-16 berth. "I'm pleased that we managed to qualify despite missing some players, including Al-Hadari and winger Ahmed Samir Farag," Ismaili assistant coach Mahmoud Gaber said after the game. It remains to be seen whether head coach Emad Soliman, under whom Ismaili slipped to fifth spot in the Egyptian Premier League table, would resign from his post. Soliman had been under pressure after a poor run and is believed to be considering his options. Ismaili chairman Nasr Aboul-Hassan also said recently he is contemplating making 'some changes' in the technical staff. The Dervishes, who won the Champions League once in 1969, will face either Sudan's Hilal or Africa Sports of Ivory Coast in the next round.
