Brilliant goalkeeping by Mahmoud Hamdy and clinical finishing earned Al Masry of Egypt a 3-2 victory away to Zesco United of Zambia on Friday in the Caf Confederation Cup.
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Both clubs scored within five minutes of the kick-off in Ndola, but Masry led 2-1 at halftime and scored again before a late Zesco goal set up a tense finish.
The matchday two victory maintained Masry's perfect group D record after a 2-1 home win over Kaizer Chiefs of South Africa last Sunday in the African equivalent of the Uefa Europa League.
Zesco, back in the group stage for the first time since 2019, are pointless, having opened their campaign with a 1-0 loss away to two-time Confederation Cup title-holders Zamalek of Egypt.
Chiefs host Zamalek on Saturday in Polokwane and a win for the visitors would make the two Egyptian outfits favourites to fill the top two places and qualify for the quarterfinals.
Centre-back Mohamed Hashem headed Masry in front on four minutes after pouncing on a parry from goalkeeper Philip Sakauta from a corner.
Zesco levelled just one minute later when Hamdy reacted too slowly to a long pass and Ivorian Michael Kouablan poked the ball into the net.
Careless defending enabled Masry to regain the lead on 24 minutes through Mounder Temine, and another Algerian, Abderrahim Deghmoum, doubled the lead after 68 minutes completely against the run of play.
The Zambian club dominated the second half, with substitute Pascal Phiri a constant threat on the right wing, only to be thwarted by a string of superb saves from Hamdy.
However, the Egyptian shot-stopper could not prevent Zesco narrowing the deficit with three minutes of regular time remaining as Peter Musukuma netted after a goalmouth melee.
Zesco, who scored nine goals at home in two qualifiers, pressed for an equaliser in added time, but Masry held firm.
WYDAD OVERCOME AZAM
Elsewhere, Wydad Casablanca of Morocco demonstrated why they are among the favourites to lift the Confederation Cup by winning 1-0 away to Azam of Tanzania in Zanzibar City.
The match-winner was Nordin Amrabat, the 38-year-old older brother of Sofyan, a midfielder who spent the 2023-24 season on loan at Manchester United from Fiorentina.
He beat goalkeeper Zuberi Foba with a shot from just inside the box on 57 minutes after being set up by South African forward Thembinkosi Lorch.
The result created a six-point gap between the clubs as Wydad won 3-0 at home against Nairobi United of Kenya last weekend, while Azam lost 2-0 away to Maniema Union from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Nairobi, competing in African competition for the first time and only the second Kenyan club after Gor Mahia to reach the group phase, host Maniema on Sunday.