DOUÉRA, Algeria (Interstat) — Zinedine Ferhat’s early strike Wednesday propelled MC Alger to a 1-0 victory over crosstown rival USM Alger in an Algerian Ligue 1 match at Stade Ali Ammar.

Ferhat scored in the 14th minute, finishing an attacking sequence assisted by Alhassane Bangoura. The goal held as the game’s only score, lifting first-place MC Alger to 15-2-4 in league play. USM Alger, which fell to 6-5-8, managed no answer.

The match was physical, featuring yellow cards for MC Alger’s Kipré Emmanuel Zunon, Bangoura and substitute Houssam Eddine Ghacha. The result extended MC Alger’s strong domestic form against a struggling local rival.