The Ports, still on a high from last week's defeat of Skonto in Riga, led from Richard Lecky's 29th minute strike after he dispossessed a Qarabaq defender and took it past another two before slamming home a left-foot drive from an acute angle.

The visitors from Azerbaijan might have levelled within five minutes when a Rashad F. Sadygov free-kick whistled through a packed penalty area before connecting with the outside of a post.

After the break substitute Raul Aliyev headed over when well placed before having another effort cleared off the line by Darren Kelly.

However two Afran Ismayilov goals in the final half-an-hour handed the visitors a huge advantage ahead of next Thursday's return leg.

He levelled on 67 minutes with a superb finish after a one-two before doubling his tally six minutes from time when he swept past Ross Redman to give David Miskelly no chance.