AFC Cup Playoffs: Maziya beats Bengaluru FC in first leg

Maziya Sports and Recreation Club beat India’s Bengaluru FC in the first leg of the AFC Cup, held on Wednesday.

The Maldivian team took the home match 2 – 1.

Following a knee injury into the beginning of the match, Maziya’s captain Asadhulla Abdulla was unable to play for the rest of the game. Both teams put up an equal effort during the first half of the match, with Maziya’s Ibrahim Mahdhy having gotten a chance to take the lead 40 minutes in. Three minutes after an attempt by Mahdhy failed, Bengaluru attempted to score as well, however, Maziya’s goal keeper thwarted the attempt effortlessly.

At the 63rd minute during the second half, the Indian team attempted to score once more to no avail. Just a minute later, Maziya took the lead with a score by Mahdhy.

Bengaluru broke their nil score with a penalty at the 71st minute.

The winning team scored its winning goal while there were 10 minutes remaining in the clock. Foreign forward Cornelius Stewart won the goal for the team.

This is the second time Maldives has beat Bengaluru FC, New Radiant Sports Club having beat the team the first-time round during 2018’s AFC Cup.

Bengaluru and Maziya went head-to-head in the AFC Cup tournaments of 2015 and 2017 as well. During both matches in 2017, Maziya lost 1 – 0.

The second leg of the match is scheduled for 26 February, in India.

Maziya is expected to win the group stages if it wins the playoffs and it will be in Group E along with TC Sports Club, India’s Chennaiyin FC and Bangladesh’s Bashundhara Kings.

Maziya Sports and Recreation Club has been preparing for the AFC tournament, with a strong squad.