'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
22.6 seconds will be a number that will be etched in the history of the ISL, as Jamshedpur FC secured their first home win of the season with a 2-1 win over Kerala Blasters.
Two first-half goals did the business for Jamshedpur with the win taking the men from the Steel City up to 13 points, one behind the Blasters and Mumbai City FC, giving their playoff hopes a much-needed boost.
Here are the main talking points of the game:
Lightning strike
In a game between Jamshedpur FC and the Kerala Blasters, two teams defensively adept, you don't expect fireworks, at least not immediately.
But we got history today, ladies and gentlemen!
20-year-old Jerry Mawihmingthanga gave us the fastest goal in ISL history when he gave Jamshedpur the lead in 22 seconds. Boom!
Off the kick-off, the Blasters conceded a throw-in deep in their area. And their defence proceeded to go to sleep as Jamshedpur took the throw-in. With players out of position, Jamshedpur worked it around neatly before a shot attempt deflected off a Blasters player and fell conveniently to Jerry who made no mistake with his finish.
It was a fantastic start to the game from Jerry and Jamshedpur.
From the youngster to the veteran
15 years and 10 senior India caps separate Jerry and Ashim Biswas, but the duo were on the same page as Biswas got Jamshedpur's second goal of the game.
The 35-year-old veteran was handed his first start of the season by head coach Steve Coppell and he made it count. In the 31st minute, Bikash Jairu's cross from the left found it's way into the Blasters' penalty area and while Jerry missed it, Biswas didn't.
A calm finish saw the hosts double their lead and make it an extremely difficult task for Kerala to get back into the match considering Jamshedpur's defensive strength.
And so it proved.
Kerala lose Keziron to injury
Since entering the fray in the home game against FC Pune City, where the Blasters staged a commendable fightback to draw the game, Ugandan Kizito Keziron has been an ever-present in Kerala's midfield.
However, the Tuskers lost the 20-year-old to injury when he fell awkwardly after contesting for the ball with Izu Azuka in the 41st minute. He was down on the ground for a long time and after he was taken out to the touchline, the Blasters' medical staff attempted to patch him up by strapping his left shoulder extensively. It looked like Keziron had suffered a dislocation.
However, after coming back on briefly, he was still in much discomfort and David James and the Blasters staff decided to take him off.
He is sure to miss at least a couple of games and considering his impact since his arrival. It remains to be seen how Kerala can cope without him.
An ordinary showing again from Jhingan
He's reached a landmark this season with 50 ISL appearances. He's got the armband as captain of the Kerala Blasters and even has a memorable assist to his name.
However defensively, the centre-back has been less than impressive, proving culpable in quite a few of the goals conceded by the Blasters this season. Earlier in the campaign, he gave away penalties for handball in two back-to-back games and today, both goals came from the India man's mistakes.
Jhingan probably did not expect Jamshedpur to initiate an attack that early, but he was still organising the defence when the hosts took the throw-in that led to the eventual opener. He was also very lazy in getting back to his spot as he was out of position, outside the box when the throw-in was taken.
For the second, Jairu's cross was a decent one, but Jhingan who was in front of Jerry completely missed the ball as his attempted clearance got nothing, but air. The ball eventually fell to Biswas who scored.
Jhingan had to either stay put, which would have seen him be in a position to block Biswas or clear the ball before it came in, which he completely got wrong. As a result it was a double whammy that saw Kerala concede again.
There were rumours earlier today linking Jhingan with English side Blackburn Rovers. Barring an improved showing the rest of the way, those rumours are not going to materialise into an actual move.
Coppell gets one over on his old side
Yes, Steve Coppell is a defensive coach, who sets his sides up to be hard to beat. But, he's a very astute one at that, who has definitive plans on how to score with the few chances that his side are likely to generate. There are proper attacking patterns visible with his teams whenever they do go forward. In short, he's a man with a plan.
That's what the Kerala Blasters, who he took to the final last season, have missed. Rene Meulensteen opted for defensive set-ups, but when they had the ball there looked to be no plan on how they were going to get a goal. The players weren't utilised properly.
Under James, he's stuck to basics with a simple game-plan. Coppell though showed today that he's able to devise plans according to the opposition that saw James' unbeaten run brought to an end.
Considering their playing style thus far this season, no one, the Blasters included, probably expected them to start the game on the front foot. But Coppell's move to attack intensely right from the start for the first 10 minutes caught Kerala by surprise. Despite the early goal, Jamshedpur were bombarding the Kerala defence with crosses for that initial period.
It looked like they came with a clear plan to try and score one, perhaps even two, before Kerala could get their defence set as well as employ the element of surprise. It got them the control in the match they wanted as the Blasters couldn't fight back and it brought them a much-needed three points and their first win at home.
