ALGIERS (Interstat) — Riad Benayad scored twice and Mohamed El Amine Ramdaoui also netted two goals as USM Alger defeated Paradou AC 4-2 in their Ligue 1 season opener Friday at Stade du 5 Juillet 1962.

Ahmed Khaldi headed home the opening goal in the 23rd minute. Ramdaoui equalized for Paradou with a right-footed strike assisted by Ilyes Cheti in the 45th minute. Glody Likonza restored USM Alger’s lead with a right-footed goal assisted by Imad Eddine Azzi in the 49th, but Ramdaoui again leveled the match in the 58th minute with help from Mohamed Imed Reguieg. Benayad put the home side ahead for good with a header in the 82nd minute and added another right-footed goal in second-half stoppage time.

Cheti, Azzi and Reguieg were shown yellow cards. USM Alger improved to 1-0 in all competitions, while Paradou fell to 0-1. Riad Benayad’s double in the final 15 minutes sealed the victory for the home side. Paradou AC, despite two goals from Ramdaoui, could not keep pace with USM Alger’s attack.