Anirudh Thapa scores 22nd-minute equaliser as India face Uruguay in Kolkata friendly

Anirudh Thapa levelled for India against Uruguay at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata on 6 October 2026, scoring in the 22nd minute of the friendly international.

Uruguay, described in the match report as two-time World Cup champions, began the game on the front foot and forced an early error from India. Pramveer Singh fouled Federico Viñas inside the penalty area, and Darwin Núñez converted the resulting spot kick in the 11th minute.

India responded with several attacking moments and created multiple key chances in the minutes after conceding. One of those moves led to Thapa’s equaliser: Ryan Williams collected the ball in midfield, the report says the Indian number 10 found space to drive forward, and a shot was fumbled by Uruguayan goalkeeper Thiago Cardozo.

It was Anirudh Thapa’s positioning that allowed him to reach Cardozo’s fumble and slot the ball into the net in the 22nd minute. After scoring, he asked for a ball to celebrate, placed it under his shirt and put his thumb in his mouth in a gesture referencing his partner’s pregnancy; the goal was his first for the national team since March 2023, against Myanmar. The report notes this equaliser came before the game was stopped right after the end of the drinks break in the first half.

Uruguay regained the lead through Maxi Araujo in the 28th minute, and the score at the end of the first half was 2-1 in favour of Uruguay.

This fixture was India’s final friendly match in the September–October international window. For further updates the report directs readers to follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube, download the Khel Now Android or iOS app, or join its communities on WhatsApp and Telegram.