Firmin Mubele scored a hat-trick as Democratic Republic of Congo club Vita floored South Africans Kaizer Chiefs 3-0 in the CAF Champions League at the weekend.
He struck twice in the first half and again just after halftime at the Kinshasa stadium where Muhammad Ali knocked out George Foreman in the 1974 ‘Rumble in the Jungle’.
It was the biggest first leg win of the last-16 qualifiers and leaves the 1973 African champions favourably placed to reach the lucrative group phase for the first time.
Chiefs were much better than the scoreline suggests at Stade Tata Raphael, but could not match the clinical finishing of teenager Mubele.
Zimbabwean Knowledge Musona, on loan to the Soweto club from German Bundesliga outfit Hoffenheim, squandered many good scoring chances in hot, humid conditions.
And Vita goalkeeper Herve Lomboto pulled off several superb saves to prevent Chiefs claiming precious away goals.
The sides meet again this weekend with the South Africans needing to score three unanswered goals just to force a penalty shootout.
Mubele, part of the DR Congo squad at the 2014 African Nations Championship (CHAN) in South Africa, broke the deadlock on 10 minutes.
Chiefs centre-back Tefu Mashamaite failed to clear a cross and Mubele volleyed the ball past stand-in goalkeeper Reyaad Pieterse.
A counter-attack led to the second goal on 35 minutes with Pieterse failing to grasp a Guy Lusadisu shot and Mubele netting the rebound.
More sloppy defending enabled the 19-year-old to complete his hat-trick two minutes into the second half on an artificial pitch.
Chiefs came closest to scoring close to the hour mark as a header from Zimbabwean Kingston Nkhatha off a Bernard Parker corner came back off the woodwork.
While the result was not surprising given the strength of Vita at home, the victory margin was a shock as Chiefs have been in good domestic and African form.
Vita and 2001 African Cup Winners Cup title-holders Chiefs are trying to reach the eight-club mini-league phase for the first time.
TP Mazembe, four-time Champions League winners and the other contenders from DR Congo, lost 2-1 away to Ivorians Sewe San Pedro.
It could have been worse for the Lubumbashi ‘Ravens’ as Tanzanian Mbwana Samatta scored a potentially crucial away goal just one minute from time.
Roger Assale put Sewe ahead in the opening half and Christian Kouane added a second goal five minutes from time.
Tunisians CS Sfaxien, 2006 runners-up to Egyptians Al Ahly, maintained the only perfect record in the competition this year by winning 1-0 at Guineans Horoya.
Fakhreddine Ben Youssef, whose goal won the second-tier CAF Confederation Cup for Sfaxien last year, netted on 60 minutes in Conakry.
Horoya eliminated 2013 Fifa Club World Cup runners-up Moroccans Raja Casablanca in the previous round.
AC Leopards, who last year became the first Republic of the Congo side to reach the group stage, were held 1-1 by Sudanese visitors Al Hilal.
Both goals in Dolisie came during the opening half with Mudather El Tahir putting twice runners-up Hilal ahead and Rudy Guelord Bhebey Ndey levelling.
A close-range El Hadi Belamiri goal on the stroke of half-time earned Algerians Entente Setif a 1-0 home victory over Cameroonians Coton Sport.
Libyans Al Ahly Benghazi upset title-holders Al Ahly 1-0, Egyptians Zamalek forced a 0-0 draw at Zambians Nkana and Malians Real Bamako and Tunisians Esperance drew 1-1 in other matches.
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