On an evening where Tim Cahill’s debut stole the pre-game headlines, it would be another foreign player in Jamshedpur colours who would have the final say, as Sergio Cidoncha Fernández’ equaliser at the death stole a precious point for the Men of Steel in Karnataka.

However, with the international break around the corner, this evening’s game was a showcase of Indian’s finest talent, with three goals crafted by home talent, the highlight of which was 16 year-old Gourav Mukhi coming off the bench, on his debut, to become the youngest ever player to score in the Indian Super League.

Mukhi’s name will undoubtedly front the sports pages tomorrow morning, but Nishu Kumar – who finally kicked a drab contest into life with a cracking 25-yard volley on the stroke of half-time – was a deserving winner of his man-of-the-match award with a fine performance in midfield, and given Indian manager Stephen Constantine something to think about ahead of the Blue Tigers‘ trip to Suzhou to face PR China next week.

Plenty more for the Indian boss to chew over from the last domestic game ahead of the international break. Harmanjot Khabra’s stunning diagonal ball (earning him pass of the match) for Sunil Chhetri to deftly head home. The winner, we all thought, before Cidoncha popped up and took advantage of some tired late Bengaluru defending to earn the visitors an unlikely point to take back North-East.

At the end of it all, two big points dropped for Bengaluru, who missed out on the chance to establish an early lead at the top of the table, having overcome such a difficult opening challenge in their single goal defeat of reigning champions Chennaiyin. Neetri himself described the result ‘like a loss’, and following a frantic final 10 minutes, the draw means five teams are now jostling at the top of the table on four points each.

Cahill’s start up front for the visitors was the main talking point heading into the game, but the Australian found himself isolated in the opening period, cut adrift from the action while desperately trying to make the most of hopeful balls from midfield, as Jamshedpur completely bypassed their third line.

Both sides employed the favoured 4-2-3-1 system, but neither made any attempt to get the ball down and play some decent football, despite the attacking potential in both starting XI’s, and save for a frantic final 10 minutes, this would have been one of the more forgettable encounters of this fledgling season’s ISL.

That Udanta Singh’s half-chance down the right flank, bursting into the box before seeing his tame square ball cleared for an inconsequential corner with the goal baying, was the most notable thing to say about the opening half-hour gives one a sense of the dirge on display in the opening half.

That was, until, Kumar’s stunning strike – taking down an awkward bouncing ball before lifting it over the despairing veteran netminder Subhashish Chowdhury and into the far corner – saw all corners of the ground on their feet, and Carles Cudarat pleased heading into half-time.

Much of the second-half played out like the first, error-stridden, patternless, and scrappy, exemplified by Nishu’s wild challenge on Jerry Mawihmingthanga at the edge of the box – the only blot on his copybook over the 90 minutes – remarkably left unpunished by referee Coimbatore Srikrishna.

Apart from that brief skirmish, the home side looked most likely to double their advantage and put the game beyond all doubt as Cahill made way for Carlos Calvo, after Mukhi had been introduced for Mawihmingthanga.

Mukhi’s goal, ten minutes into his senior debut, will earn its headlines due to his young age – beating the previous record by an entire two years – but what was particularly impressive was the experience and savvy he showed in seizing on Mario Arqués’ lift over the top, before holding off Albert Serrán and poking it into the corner of the net.

A brilliant moment for the emerging talent, notwithstanding the celebration that followed, but one that seemed largely secondary when fellow countryman Chhetri timed his jump to perfection to flick home what looked to be an equaliser.

However this Jamshedpur side look to be gaining confidence all the time under new boss Ferrando, and in the dying embers of added time Cidoncha found a gaping hole in the Bengaluru defence to make the most of another smart Arqués ball, snapping a first-time shot past Gurpeet Singh, and ensuring the result to go along with the headlines.

Not just for Cahill, but now for a new superstar, Gourav Mukhi.

Bengaluru FC: G Singh; R Bheke, A Serrán, Juanan, N Kumar; H Khabra, E Paartalu; U Singh (B Haokip 90), Xisco Hernández (Dimas 77), S Chhetri; N Fedor (T Haokip 94).

Jamshedpur FC: S Chowdhury; Y Raju, R Gaikwad (M Rahman 54), Tiri, B Jairu; Mario Arqués, Memo; J Mawihmingthanga (G Mukhi 71), M Soosairaj, Cidoncha; T Cahill (C Calvo 72).

Referee: C Srikrishna.

Attendance: 15,893.

Kevin Galvin

@kjgalvin93