India vs Uruguay: Anirudh Thapa scores as Blue Tigers go down 6-1 in Kolkata

Image: Pixel Sports/Debjoy Biswas

Anirudh Thapa gave India a memorable moment against Uruguay, but the two-time world champions showed their quality to register a 6-1 win at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan on Tuesday.

Darwin Núñez opened the scoring from the penalty spot before Thapa brought India level in the 22nd minute. Maximiliano Araújo then scored twice, while Rodrigo Zalazar, Juan Manuel Sanabria and Rodrigo Aguirre were also on target for Uruguay.

India began with intent and tried to push forward whenever they won possession. Akash Mishra sent a long throw into the Uruguay box in the sixth minute and, after the initial clearance, Anwar Ali fired wide.

A few minutes later, Ryan Williams won the ball and released Edmund Lalrindika, but Santiago Mouriño made an important sliding challenge before the Indian forward could get his shot away.

Uruguay took the lead in the 12th minute after Pramveer brought down Federico Viñas inside the penalty area. Núñez stepped up and calmly sent Gurpreet Singh Sandhu the wrong way from the spot.

The visitors almost doubled their advantage soon afterwards when Araújo struck the post following a quick move.

India, however, continued to look for an opening and were rewarded in the 22nd minute.

Williams won possession in midfield and carried the ball forward before testing goalkeeper Thiago Cardozo. The Uruguay goalkeeper failed to hold the shot, and Thapa reacted quickly to score from the rebound.

The goal brought India level and also earned Thapa a place in Indian football history. He became only the second Indian to score against Uruguay in a senior international, after Manas Bhattacharya in the 1982 Nehru Cup.

Soon after the equaliser, the match was stopped because of lightning and poor weather conditions. The delay lasted around half an hour.

Uruguay regained the lead almost immediately after play resumed. Nahitan Nández sent a low cross into the box and Araújo finished from close range in the 28th minute.

Gurpreet then made a brave save from Núñez before half-time as India went into the break trailing 2-1.

Khalid Jamil made two changes at the interval, bringing on Bijoy Varghese and Sahal Abdul Samad.

Uruguay extended their lead in the 53rd minute. Núñez headed down a long ball and Zalazar finished the move with a strong shot at the near post.

Araújo scored his second six minutes later after Viñas played him through. The winger moved into the box and placed his finish into the bottom corner to make it 4-1.

India still managed to create chances despite the scoreline. Lalengmawia fired just over the bar in the 62nd minute, while Mohammed Sanan forced Cardozo into a good save eight minutes later.

Uruguay added their fifth goal in the 71st minute after breaking quickly from an India corner. Facundo Pellistri advanced down the right and found Sanabria, who finished from close range.

Aguirre completed the scoring in the 86th minute, curling a fine effort into the top-left corner after another move involving Pellistri.

The defeat brought an end to India's three-match international window. The Blue Tigers drew 1-1 with Panama before losing to Brazil and Uruguay.

India scored twice across the three matches, with Ryan Williams finding the net against Panama and Thapa scoring against Uruguay.

The results showed the gap India still have to close against stronger international sides, but the window also gave Khalid Jamil’s team valuable experience against three teams that had played at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

India: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu (Albino Gomes 78'), Abhishek Singh Tekcham (Mohammed Sanan 65'), Pramveer (Bijoy Varghese 46'), Anwar Ali, Akash Mishra, Anirudh Thapa, Lalengmawia (Ricky Shabong 78'), Manvir Singh (Rahim Ali 78'), Ryan Williams, Edmund Lalrindika (Sahal Abdul Samad 46'), Ashique Kuruniyan (Hmingthanmawia Ralte 65').