Anirudh Thapa is the name that is trending on the football X right now. The Indian midfielder etched his name into the record books on Tuesday night when he became only the second player from the country to score against two-time FIFA World Cup winners Uruguay. His 22nd-minute equaliser at the Salt Lake Stadium cancelled out Darwin Nunez’s earlier penalty and briefly levelled the international friendly at 1-1.
The stunning rebound goal is something everyone has been talking about. The Indian team was full of momentum and looked to have found their rhythm before the weather forced a lengthy interruption. Uruguay, ranked among the world’s elite and featuring several established internationals, had taken the lead in the 11th minute.
Indian defender Pramveer was penalised for a foul inside the area, and Liverpool forward Nunez stepped up to convert the spot-kick with composure, sending goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu the wrong way. The early setback tested the Blue Tigers’ resolve against a side far higher in the FIFA rankings.
Anirudh Thapa becomes only second Indian footballer to score vs 2-time FIFA World Cup winners Uruguay; who was first?
The Indian team did not hold back and responded when the Australian-born attacker Ryan Williams won possession in midfield and drove forward before unleashing a shot from the edge of the box. Uruguay goalkeeper Thiago Cardozo could only parry the effort into a dangerous area.
Thapa, alert and decisive, reacted first to the rebound and slotted the ball home to spark celebrations among the home supporters and players. The goal, coming just 11 minutes after falling behind, underlined India’s willingness to attack rather than merely contain their opponents.
Anirudha Thapa is the only second Indian to have scored vs Uruguay; Who was first?
Thapa’s stunning goal carried extra historical weight as it was not just an equaliser. Following his strike, he has now become the second Indian to have scored vs the two-time FIFA World Cup champions. The previous Indian goal against Uruguay was scored 44 years earlier in the 1982 Nehru Cup at Eden Gardens, also in Kolkata.
It was Manas Bhattacharya who scored in a 1-3 defeat. Bhattacharya, a prominent figure for Mohun Bagan and Mohammedan Sporting in the 1970s and 1980s, found the net in the 35th minute that day after Uruguay had already established a two-goal lead through Jorge da Silva. Tuesday’s goal therefore ended a long wait and linked two generations of Indian footballers who found the net against La Celeste on home soil in the same city.
Who is Anirudha Thapa?
Everyone wants to know about him now. Thapa is an Indian footballer who specializes in midfield. Born in Dehra Dun on January 15, 1998, the 28-year-old plays for Mohun Bagan Super Giant in the Indian Super League. He has been a consistent presence in the national setup for several years. A two-time ISL winner, he made his India debut in 2017 and has accumulated more than 60 caps.
This was his fifth international goal and his first since March 2023. Returning to the national team after a period away, the midfielder delivered a moment of genuine quality against high-level opposition. Anirudh has been playing football ever since he was 10 at the St. Stephen's Football Academy in Chandigarh.
Thapa was part of the India U14 side before being selected in the AIFF Regional Academy in Kalyani in 2012. He then moved into the AIFF Elite Academy and went on to become the captain of the I-League U19. In 2016, he was one of the four players selected for Metz, a French Ligue 2 side.
Thapa began his ISL journey in 2016 when he was signed by Chennaiyin FC. Following the conclusion of the 2018 ISL, he moved to Minerva Punjab of the I-League on loan. He made his debut against Mohun Bagan in January 2017. The player returned to Chennaiyin in May 2017 after his loan spell ended. After the end of the 2021-22 ISL season, he left his former club to join Mohun Bagan.
India vs Uruguay full-time score
Uruguay defeated India 6-1 in the FIFA friendly in Kolkata’s iconic Salt Lake Stadium. Darwin Nunez, Maximiliano Araujo brace, Rodrigo Zalazar, Juan Manuel Sanabria, and Rodrigo Aguirre scored for the visitors, with Thapa the only one scoring for the hosts. The last goal came just ahead of the stoppage time at the 86th minute by Aguirre.
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