Holders Entente Setif made a humiliating exit from the 2015 CAF Champions League title race this weekend when trounced 3-0 at USM Alger in an Algerian derby.

Needing at least a draw to remain in contention for a semi-finals place from Group B, the visitors conceded two goals within four minutes as half-time approached.

USM scored again midway through the second half at Stade Omar Hamadi in Algiers to complete five consecutive group victories with unexpected ease.

The matchday 5 result sealed first place for 2003 semi-finalists USM and second place for Al Merrikh of Sudan, who are away to pointless Mouloudia El Eulma in Algeria late Saturday.

Setif sharpshooter Mohamed Benyettou twice threatened to break the deadlock early in the match at a 17,000-seat stadium that overlooks the Mediterranean sea.

USM then slowly took charge and had several genuine penalty appeals rejected before taking the lead on 34 minutes.

Youcef Bellaili sprang an offside trap to run through unopposed and beat goalkeeper Sofiane Khedairia with a low shot into the corner.

France-born Khedairia should have prevented the second goal -- a shot from Kaddour Beldjilali that went across the goalkeeper and in off the far post.

Substitute and former Setif star Mohamed Amine Aoudia completed the rout after 74 minutes by scoring off a rebound after his header had been parried.

In Group A, TP Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Moghreb Tetouan of Morocco and Al Hilal of Sudan are the contenders for semi-finals places.