Without their talisman Sunil Chhetri, Bengaluru FC saw their AFC Cup qualifying campaign hit a roadblock as Maziya S&RC beat the Indian club 2-1 here on Wednesday.
Goals from Ibrahim Mahudhee (64th) and Cornelius Stewart (80th) on either side of a Nili Perdomo (71st) spot-kick for the Blues gave Maziya the advantage ahead of the second leg in Bengaluru next week.
Carles Cuadrat chopped and changed his eleven yet again as Bengaluru began the game with Leon Augustine on the flank, making his first start for the team.
With Suresh Singh Wangjam serving a one-game suspension and Chhetri injured, Semboi Haokip was given the task of leading the line while Ashique Kuruniyan played down the left.
Maziya were dealt an early blow when striker Asadullah Abdullah went down injured and had to be replaced with less than ten minutes on the clock.
Maziya had a chance to break the deadlock in the 40th minute when Ibrahim Aisham found himself onside and in possession.
The midfielder's shot, however,
