India midfielder Anirudh Thapa scored against Uruguay in a friendly in Kolkata, becoming the second Indian to do so after Manas Bhattacharya in 1982.
India lost 6-1 to Uruguay at Salt Lake Stadium, but Thapa’s goal made history. According to the All India Football Federation (AIFF), he was first to the rebound after Ryan Williams’ shot and guided the ball past goalkeeper Thiago Cardozo. It briefly made the score 1-1 before Uruguay took control.
Uruguay opened the scoring in the 11th minute with a penalty converted by Darwin Núñez after Indian defender Pramveer fouled in the box. Thapa equalised about 11 minutes later. After a weather delay, Uruguay scored five more goals to win 6-1, according to AIFF and the Uruguayan Football Association.
The previous Indian goal against Uruguay came from Manas Bhattacharya at the 1982 Nehru Cup in Kolkata, when India lost 3-1. The teams had met only once since then: Uruguay beat an India side 3-0 in the 2001 Millennium Super Soccer Cup in Kochi.
For 28-year-old Thapa, it was his fifth international goal and his first since March 2023. He plays for Mohun Bagan Super Giant and made his senior India debut in 2017. Despite the heavy defeat, his goal restored a historic milestone for Indian football against the two-time world champions.