India’s Anirudh Thapa celebrates after scoring a goal during the international friendly football match between India and Uruguay at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata on October 6, 2026.
| Photo Credit: K.R. Deepak
India showed enough attacking intent to suggest it could compete with two-time world champion Uruguay, but a second-half collapse exposed the gulf in pace, depth and efficiency as the host eventually capitulated to a 1-6 loss at the Salt Lake Stadium on Tuesday (October 6, 2026).
India started positively but struggled to maintain its defensive discipline as the game progressed.
Uruguay took the lead in the 11th minute when Federico Vinas was brought down inside the box, allowing Darwin Nunez to convert from the spot.
Responding well
India responded well and drew level in the 22nd minute. Ryan Williams’ effort was parried by goalkeeper Thiago Cardozo, but Thapa reacted quickest to the rebound and fired home.
The Blue Tigers were able to find openings in the final third whenever they moved the ball with purpose.
But their vulnerability was exposed when possession changed hands. That weakness was evident in the 28th minute after play resumed following a 35-minute delay due to lightning.
Rodrigo Bentancur released Nandez down the right as India failed to reorganise quickly enough, allowing the full-back to find Maxi Araujo, who produced a clinical finish to put Uruguay in the lead.
The goal highlighted India’s biggest problem: it lacked the speed to shift from attack to defence and struggled to rebuild quickly after winning possession.
There were encouraging moments, too. Gurpreet Singh Sandhu produced an excellent 37th-minute save to deny Nunez after the striker had been put through.
India went into the break 1-2 down, with its attacking players — Edmund Lalrindika, Manvir Singh and Williams — lacking precision in the final third.
Uruguay coach Diego Forlan made seven changes, including Lucas Torreira and Facundo Pellistri, adding fresh quality and energy to his side. Rodrigo Zalazar made it 3-1 in the 53rd minute, Araujo scored his second in the 59th, Juan Sanabria found the target in the 71st, and Rodrigo Aguirre netted in the 86th to complete the rout.
India’s efforts did not disappear, but its inability to match Uruguay’s pace and intensity became increasingly evident.
The host struggled to close spaces and recover its defensive shape as Uruguay repeatedly exploited transitions.
India had late opportunities through substitutes Mohammed Sanan and Sahal Abdul Samad, but both efforts were saved by Cardozo in the Uruguay goal.
The result: India 1 (Anirudh Thapa 22) lost to Uruguay 6 (Darwin Nunez 11-pen, Maxi Araujo 28, 59, Rodrigo Zalazar 53, Juan Sanabria 71, Rodrigo Aguirre 86).
Published – October 07, 2026 12:05 am IST
