Uruguay Overpower India 6-1 after Thapa’s Equaliser in Kolkata

India’s final international friendly of the FIFA window ended in a heavy defeat as Uruguay beat India 6-1 at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata on Tuesday. The night had everything from an early Indian fightback to a dramatic lightning delay, but Uruguay’s quality eventually proved too much for the Blue Tigers.

For a brief period, India looked capable of giving the two-time FIFA World Cup champions a real contest. Anirudh Thapa cancelled out Darwin Núñez’s early penalty, sending more than 37,000 spectators into celebration. But after the weather interruption, Uruguay returned with greater intensity and scored five more times.

Darwin Núñez Gives Uruguay an Early Lead

India started with confidence, looking to build on the encouraging moments from their earlier international fixtures in the window. However, Uruguay soon found a way through when Pramveer Singh’s challenge on Federico Viñas inside the penalty area resulted in a spot-kick.

Darwin Núñez stepped up and calmly converted the penalty in the 11th minute, putting Uruguay ahead. The goal gave the visitors an early advantage, but India responded instead of allowing the match to drift away from them.

Anirudh Thapa Brings India Level

India produced one of their best moments of the night in the 22nd minute. Ryan Williams created the opportunity with a shot that Uruguay goalkeeper Thiago Cardozo could only parry into danger.

Thapa reacted quickest, reached the loose ball inside the box and calmly guided it into the net. The Anirudh Thapa goal made it 1-1 and sparked one of the loudest celebrations of the evening at Salt Lake Stadium. It was also a significant personal moment for Thapa, who became only the second Indian player to score against Uruguay in a senior international.

Lightning Brings the Match to a Sudden Halt

Just when the match was beginning to open up, the weather dramatically changed the evening. Lightning and thunder forced the referee to suspend the India vs Uruguay football friendly after around 26-27 minutes.

Players from both teams were ordered off the pitch and sent to their dressing rooms, while spectators were advised to move to covered areas for safety. The interruption lasted roughly 35 minutes, creating an unusual atmosphere inside the stadium as supporters waited for the match to resume.

The stoppage proved significant. Once play restarted, Uruguay immediately regained control and began exploiting gaps in India’s defence.

Maximiliano Araujo Restores Uruguay’s Lead

Uruguay needed only a short time after the restart to regain the advantage. Nahitan Nández delivered a dangerous low cross from the right, and Maximiliano Araujo arrived to finish the move in the 28th minute.

The goal put Uruguay 2-1 ahead and shifted the momentum firmly towards the visitors. India had shown plenty of energy before the weather break, but Uruguay looked increasingly comfortable as the game progressed.

Uruguay Pull Away in the Second Half

The second half quickly became a demonstration of Uruguay’s attacking quality. Rodrigo Zalazar extended the lead in the 53rd minute after Lucas Torreira helped create the opening, giving Uruguay a 3-1 advantage.

Araujo then scored his second of the night in the 59th minute, taking the game beyond India’s reach. The visitors continued to find space and punish defensive mistakes, while India struggled to recreate the attacking momentum they had shown before the lightning interruption.

Juan Manuel Sanabria added Uruguay’s fifth goal in the 71st minute after a quick attacking transition, before substitute Rodrigo Aguirre completed the scoring in the 86th minute with an excellent finish. The final scoreline read 6-1 to Uruguay.

India Show Flashes Despite Heavy Defeat

The India 1-6 Uruguay result was undoubtedly disappointing, but there were encouraging moments for Khalid Jamil’s side. India created opportunities in both halves and showed enough attacking intent to trouble Uruguay at times.

Mohammed Sanan forced a save from Cardozo in the second half, while Williams also tested the Uruguay goalkeeper. The biggest positive, however, was the way India responded after conceding early, with Thapa’s equaliser showing that the hosts could create opportunities against a team ranked among the world’s established football nations.

A Tough End to India’s International Window

The India vs Uruguay 2026 match brought the curtain down on a demanding international window for the Blue Tigers. India began with a 1-1 draw against Panama before facing two-time World Cup champions Brazil and Uruguay in Kolkata.

The Brazil match ended in a 4-0 defeat, while Uruguay inflicted an even heavier loss. Nevertheless, the fixtures gave India valuable exposure against high-level opposition and allowed Jamil’s squad to experience the speed, physicality and technical quality required at the international level.

Diego Forlán’s Uruguay Make Their Mark in Kolkata

The victory was also a memorable return to India for Diego Forlán. The former Uruguay star previously played for Mumbai City FC in the Indian Super League in 2016 and returned a decade later as the country's head coach.

Forlán had spoken before the match about India's potential and warned his players not to underestimate the hosts after watching their performance against Brazil. His Uruguay side ultimately delivered a ruthless display, particularly after the weather interruption.

Thapa’s Moment in a Night to Remember

For India, the final score will dominate the headlines, but Thapa’s equaliser provided a moment that Indian football supporters can hold onto. Against a two-time world champion, India briefly levelled the game and gave the home crowd something to celebrate.

Uruguay ultimately showed why they remain one of South America's most respected football nations. Araujo’s brace, along with goals from Núñez, Zalazar, Sanabria and Aguirre, turned a competitive opening into a comprehensive victory.

The Kolkata football match will therefore be remembered for two very different reasons: Thapa’s historic goal and the spectacular weather interruption that briefly brought the game to a standstill. Once football resumed, however, Uruguay made their superiority count and finished India's international window with a commanding 6-1 victory.