Mohamed Sherif scored 54 seconds after the kick-off to set up Al Ahly of Egypt for a vital 3-0 CAF Champions League victory over Coton Sport of Cameroon on Saturday.
Recent signing Ahmed Kendouci doubled the lead before halftime and substitute Khalil Raafat completed the rout in added time in Cairo.
Record 10-time African champions Ahly remain third in Group B, but they narrowed the gap behind second-placed Al Hilal of Sudan to two points with three rounds remaining.
Mohamed Shérif ouvre le score dès la 54ème seconde dans la lucarne DIRECT ! ????
— Onze Masr (@onzemasr) March 4, 2023
Al Ahly 1-0 Coton Sport#TotalEnergiesCAFCL pic.twitter.com/ZdmJbW3CDC
Former title-holders Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa have seven points, two-time runners-up Hilal six, Ahly four and Coton none.
Hilal host Coton in Omdurman on Tuesday and Sundowns have home advantage over Ahly four days later in Pretoria, with clubs aiming for a top-two finish and a quarterfinals place.
Were Hilal and Sundowns to win next week, Ahly would be five points adrift of the second qualifying spot and in danger of missing the knockout phase for the first time since 2016.
After an away loss to Hilal and a home draw with Sundowns, Ahly needed maximum points against Coton and the Cairo Red Devils made the perfect start.
Sherif controlled a Taher Mohamed cutback before slamming the ball across goalkeeper Gadin Allambatnan into the far corner of the net.
Kendouci, who joined Ahly from Algerian club Entente Setif last month, netted with a diving header off a cross from Tunisian Ali Maaloul on 40 minutes.
Veteran Maaloul was also the architect of the 92nd-minute third goal, scored by teenager Raafat, who had replaced Mohamed midway through the second half.