Alain Traore scored twice as 10-man Burkina Faso beat Ethiopia 4-0 in Group C of the Africa Cup of Nations on Friday.
Lorient striker Traore had already put the Stallions in front when goalkeeper Abdoulaye Soulama was shown a straight red card for a deliberate handball.
However, they quickly recovered from the blow with Traore, Djakaridja Kone and Jonathan Pitroipa adding further goals to lift Burkina Faso to the top of the group standings.
Ethiopia were unlucky not to be ahead as early as the fifth minute when Saladin Said released Shimeles Bekel with a back heel, but the midfielder saw his curling effort come back off the right post.
Burkina Faso produced little of note until the 22nd minute but then had the ball in the back of the net, albeit illegally.
Traore sparked things with a strike from distance which was parried by goalkeeper Zerihun Tadelle to Wilfried Sanou. He slammed a shot home, but the goal was ruled out with the midfielder marginally offside.
However, they had the ball in the net once more after 34 minutes and this time it stood. Aristide Bance saw his power drive cleared off the line, but Charles Kabore picked up the loose ball and played it over the top of the defence for Traore to volley in from close range.
Burkina Faso continued to have the edge but their luck appeared to turn on the hour mark when Soulama was sent off for handling the ball outside of the area.
A hold-up in play followed while Burkina Faso considered their tactics, with Sanou eventually making way for replacement keeper Daouda Diakite.
Diakite's first job was to deal with a free-kick from Behailu Assefa, and he came to the rescue again 10 minutes later, clinging on to another threatening ball from Behailu as the Black Lions looked to make their man advantage count.
But it was Burkina Faso who came up with the next goal after 74 minutes and it was one to savour from Traore. Pitroipa flicked the ball on to the striker, who let fly with a beautiful left-footed shot from 30 yards for his third goal of the tournament.
Kone then sealed the points five minutes later, with Pitroipa again providing the pass for the goal which was side-footed under the onrushing Tadelle.
And Pitroipa added gloss to the scoreline with a deserved fourth five minutes into stoppage time. Ethiopia were sloppy in losing the ball in midfield, with Benjamin Balima then racing down the right and placing a perfect pass to the feet of Pitroipa, who lifted his effort over Tadelle.
The 20-year-old forward is to be loaned straight back to his former club, Championship promotion-chasers Crystal Palace, before linking up with United in July.
Zaha came through the youth academy at Crystal Palace and has scored 15 goals in 124 appearances for the Eagles since he was given a debut against Cardiff in March 2010.
A skilful, pacy forward who can play on the wing or as a striker, Zaha made his England debut as a substitute against Sweden last November.
United are believed to be paying around £10million up front for his services, with the fee potentially rising to £15million if certain conditions are met.
Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson said: "As we like to do, we sign young players with potential. We can also develop players well here, that's proved to be the case many times.
"Hopefully the boy will enjoy it coming here, when he eventually does join us in the summer."
Zaha said: "I am delighted to be joining Manchester United and ending the recent speculation.
"I would like to thank the owners at Palace for making the move possible. However, my focus for the next five months will be solely at Crystal Palace.
"I have been at Palace for more than 10 years, I will always love the club, and I want to help get them get back to the Premier League, particularly for the fans who have always been so good to me."
And Crystal Palace co-chairman Steve Parish said: "I feel this is a great deal for the club and the player. We would like to thank Wilf for all he has done for the club and we all wish him well when he joins Manchester United in the summer.
"It was essential to Wilf and ourselves that he stayed at Palace for the remainder of this season, to help the club with its main aim of promotion to the Premier League."
