Thapa scores but Uruguay beat India 6-1
Anirudh Thapa made history with a goal against Uruguay, but the Blue Tigers suffered a heavy 6-1 defeat at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan.
Anirudh Thapa etched his name into the history books on Tuesday night, becoming only the second Indian to score against Uruguay in a senior international match. However, his historic moment was overshadowed by a clinical Uruguay side that dismantled the Blue Tigers with a 6-1 victory at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata.
A Moment of History Amidst the Storm
The atmosphere in Kolkata reached a fever pitch in the 23rd minute when India momentarily stunned the two-time world champions. After Ryan Williams drove into space and unleashed a shot that Uruguay goalkeeper Thiago Cardozo could only spill, Anirudh Thapa reacted with lightning speed. He guided the loose ball into the net, leveling the score and sending the 37,307 spectators into a frenzy.
Thapa’s feat is a rare distinction in Indian football. He joins Manas Bhattacharya as the only other Indian to find the net against Uruguay, following Bhattacharya's strike in the 1982 Nehru Cup.
Lightning and Momentum Shifts
The brief period of parity for India was abruptly halted by nature. In the 27th minute, play was suspended for nearly half an hour due to lightning and inclement weather. When the match finally resumed, the momentum had shifted decisively toward La Celeste.
Uruguay restored their lead in the 29th minute when Maximiliano Araujo finished a low cross from Nahitan Nández. India’s goalkeeper, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, showed immense bravery in the 37th minute, using his face to block a chip attempt from Nunez, leaving the score at 1-2 at the interval.
Uruguay Pulls Away in the Second Half
The second half saw the visitors assert their dominance, proving why they are among the world's elite. The onslaught continued as follows:
- 53rd Minute: Rodrigo Zalazar drove past Sandhu at the near post to make it 3-1, following a header from Nunez.
- 59th Minute: Maximiliano Araujo secured his brace with a clinical left-footed finish into the bottom corner.
- 71st Minute: After being caught on a counter-attack following a corner, India conceded a third to Sanabria, who finished from close range.
- 87th Minute: Facundo Pellistri set up Aguirre, who curled the ball into the top-left corner to complete the 6-1 rout.
A Tough Window for the Blue Tigers
While Thapa’s goal provided a silver lining, the result highlights the gap between India and the world's top-tier nations. India concludes this three-match international window with a draw against Panama and losses to Brazil and Uruguay, conceding 11 goals in total against sides that competed at the 2026 World Cup.