Uruguay ended their Asian tour with a commanding victory. La Celeste defeated India 6-1 on Tuesday at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan stadium in Kolkata, securing their second consecutive win after beating South Korea 4-1.

Diego Forlán's team started with intensity and took an early lead. Darwin Núñez converted a penalty in the 11th minute, awarded after a foul on Federico Viñas. The equaliser arrived surprisingly eleven minutes later. Debutant goalkeeper Thiago Cardozo, aged 30, spilled a shot from Ryan Williams and Anirudh Thapa tapped in the rebound. It was India's first goal against a FIFA top-20 nation since 1992. "Anirudh Thapa's equalizer was special because this is the first time that an Indian has scored a goal against an opposition that features in the top 20 of the official FIFA rankings, since they were introduced back in 1992," noted Hindustan Times Sports.

Recovery and takeoff

Uruguay regrouped and regained control before halftime. Maximiliano Araujo, from a Nahitan Nández cross, headed home to make it 2-1 in the 28th minute. Rain and lightning caused a brief stoppage but did not halt Celeste's momentum. In the second half, Rodrigo Zalazar extended the lead to 3-1 in the 53rd minute with a header assisted by Núñez. Araujo completed his brace six minutes later, finishing a move started by Viñas. The scoreline now reflected absolute dominance.

Forlán used the opportunity to make changes and give minutes. Juan Sanabria, who had come on for José María Giménez, scored the fifth in the 71st minute from a Facundo Pellistri cross. Rodrigo Aguirre, a substitute for Núñez, added the final touch in the 86th, also assisted by Pellistri. The 6-1 final score consolidates a positive run of two straight wins, following the setback of the 3-1 defeat to Japan.

Takeaways and context

Beyond the score, the match had significant moments. Captain Giménez, who reached 100 caps for the national team during this period, was substituted in the 63rd minute for Juan Rodríguez. In midfield, Rodrigo Bentancur was key in buildup, while Lucas Torreira provided solidity after coming on at halftime. In defence, Santiago Mourino was the player with the most touches for Uruguay.

The tour's balance is positive, with two wins in three matches. The team showed attacking power, scoring ten goals across the games against South Korea and India. To follow the squad's evolution, see the full list on squad. Uruguay's next official commitment will be in World Cup qualifying, where they will aim to maintain this upward trend.

First reported at Khel Now

India's manager, Khalid Jamil, analyzed his team's defeat. Jamil noted that the stoppage for a thunderstorm affected his side. "The atmosphere dwindled within minutes and we lost our momentum," the coach said. The game was halted for around 30 minutes after Anirudh Thapa's equalizing goal. Uruguay regained control and scored shortly after play resumed. Uruguay's last result was the 6-1 win over India on October 6.