India fought back against Uruguay in a pulsating international friendly, with Anirudh Thapa producing a composed finish to bring the hosts level after the South American side had taken the lead from the penalty spot.

Uruguay went ahead after Pramveer’s challenge on Vinas inside the box was judged to be a foul, handing Darwin Nunez the opportunity from 12 yards. The Uruguay star made no mistake, sending Gurpreet Singh Sandhu the wrong way before finding the bottom corner.

India responded with greater attacking intent and eventually found their equaliser through Thapa. Ryan Williams sparked the move on the transition, carrying the ball forward before unleashing a shot from the edge of the box. Uruguay goalkeeper Cardozo could only palm the effort back into danger, and Thapa reacted quickly to calmly slot home the rebound.

The goal lifted the atmosphere inside the stadium as India continued to press for a result against the two-time World Cup winners.

Who Is Anirudh Thapa?

Born in Dehradun, Anirudh Thapa is an Indian professional footballer who has established himself in the Indian circuit. Thapa began playing football at the age of 10 at the St. Stephen’s Football Academy in Chandigarh. He later progressed through India’s youth setup, representing the India U14 side before joining the AIFF Regional Academy in Kalyani and eventually becoming captain of the AIFF Elite Academy’s U19 team.

In 2016, Thapa was selected for a training stint with French Ligue 2 club Metz before signing a long-term deal with Chennaiyin FC. He made his professional debut for Chennaiyin later that year. A loan spell with Minerva Punjab in the I-League followed, where he scored his first professional goal.

Thapa returned to Chennaiyin and became an important part of the team’s midfield. He helped the club win the 2017-18 Indian Super League title and was later praised as one of the country’s emerging football talents. He also captained Chennaiyin during the 2021-22 season.

After his Chennaiyin stint, Thapa moved to Mohun Bagan, continuing his career at one of India’s biggest football clubs. Known for his passing, work rate and ability to contribute in attack, Thapa has also been a regular presence in the Indian national team setup.