Delhi Dynamos FC’s Marcelinho scored the Hero Indian Super League’s 350th goal when he converted from the spot to make it 3-3 against Mumbai City FC in their first encounter of Hero ISL 2016 on Tuesday. The match between the Dynamos and Mumbai on Matchday 17 ended in the seventh draw of the season, two more than Hero ISL 2014 and five more than Hero ISL 2015 at the same stage of the league.

While there has been a decrease in the goals per match ratio (2.05) – a drop of 0.53 and 0.36 after 17 games from 2014 and 2015 respectively – the fact that the sides have struggled to close out matches and protect their lead is also undeniable. Tuesday’s pulsating 3-3 draw between the Lions and Mumbai at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium is the perfect example.

Mumbai were first 2-0 up at half-time and then 3-1 ahead in the 69th minute as well. However, Alexandre Guimaraes’ men’s inability to run down the clock – on more than one occasion this year – came back to haunt them as substitute Badara Badji came off the bench to find the back of the net in the 76thminute before Marcelinho’s penalty eight minutes from full-time made it seven draws from 17 games thus far.

Late rescue acts seem to be the flavour of the season during the early stages of the league this year. Of the seven draws this season, five matches have seen the leveller come late in the game with FC Pune City’s marquee player Mohamed Sissoko’s 68th-minute strike against Kerala Blasters FC being the earliest amongst the equalisers in these games.

It must also be noted that Cedric Hengbart scored the fastest goal of the season when he netted in the third minute for Kerala against the Stallions. The Blasters also had four shots on target to Pune’s one, thereby further highlighting how teams have failed to finish off matches this year. Kerala and Delhi were involved in the only goalless match of the season so far, whereas the goals in the 1-1 draw involving Delhi and NorthEast United FC, which came in the 38th and 51st minutes, stand out as the exception. The rest of the draws this season, however, have seen the equalisers come only in the 76th minute or beyond as opposition defences have found it difficult to cope with late pressure.

Tuesday night wasn’t the first time Mumbai’s backline were breached in the final 15 minutes of the game. They conceded an 83rd-minute equaliser to Atlético de Kolkata’s Javi Lara as well in Matchday 10 at the Mumbai Football Arena. ATK had also rescued late points earlier in the season too: something defending champions Chennaiyin FC will need no reminding as it came at their expense when Iain Hume converted from the spot four minutes from full-time to make it 2-2 at the Rabindra Sarobar Stadium in Kolkata.

The winners of the inaugural season though aren’t immune to late errors themselves as their last outing against FC Goa showed: they conceded a 77th-minute penalty. Their 1-1 draw against the Gaurs saw them take the lead through Sameehg Doutie in the sixth minute and create a host of other chances before ex-ATK man Joffre’s kick from the spot.

With that in mind things can change very quickly as the teams start to acclimatise better and grow familiar with themselves as well as the opposition. A spike in goals lately, which has seen 18 goals scored in the last eight games as opposed to 17 in the first nine, may indicate what can be expected in the future as the shackles come off and every team gets to know what they’re playing for and understand what they need to do.