Young Gourav Mukhi scripted history as Jamshedpur rallied from a goal behind to hold Bengaluru FC to a thrilling 2-2 draw at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium on Sunday.
The 16-year-old teenager scored a wonderful goal to level the scores for his side on a night he also became the youngest player to make his debut in the Indian Super League (ISL). Another youngster, Nishu Kumar had given the home side a 1-0 lead in the final minute of the first half with a stunning effort.
His strike for most of the game set Bengaluru cruising to a victory until the game opened up with Mukhi’s maiden goal before Bengaluru skipper Sunil Chhetri headed his side to a lead once again. But with second remaining Sergio Cidoncha leapt high above everyone else to place his header on target from a Mario Arques cross and snatch a point away from home.
Confident from their opening match victories, both sides started on the attack. But it was Jamshedpur who looked more confident with marquee signing Tim Cahill getting his first start after serving a one-match ban back from his MLS days.
The former Australia international made his first mark with a delicious through ball for Jerry Mawhmingthanga just after the half-hour. But the forwards’ cross for Michael Soosairaj was too heavy and ran out of play.
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This was after Bengaluru had already come twice close to scoring. First Udanta Singh had broken loose on the left flank but his cross for Chhetri failed him, while Miku couldn’t connect a through ball from the skipper.
Bengaluru, however, took the lead from a set-piece struck by Xisco Hernandez. The ball was initially cleared by Tiri but feel for Nishu, whose long-range breezed into the left-top corner of the net. Minutes earlier before the goal, Xisco’s volley from a Chhetri free-kick had struck the side-netting.
Defender Raju Gaikwad was replaced by Mobashir Rahman at the break as Jamshedpur coach Ferrando went for more midfield control. The move nearly paid off and another stunner looked on the cards when Rahman curled an effort from outside the Bengaluru box. But goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh was up to the task and palmed the ball away.
Ferrando’s next substitution though will be on the money when he replaced Jerry for the 16-year-old forward Mukhi in the 71st minute. 10 minutes later the teenager scored to bring his back into the match after outmuscling Albert Serran to get to the end of Arques’ cross and place it past Singh.
Indian captain Chhetri then had his moment of glory as he leapt high to head in Hermanjot Khabra’s cross to once again give his side the lead in the thrilling contest.
But the match was still not over when Cidoncha headed home another of Arques’ cross to earn a vital away point for his side.
Image Source: ISL