India and Uruguay friendly for Kolkata end 1-1, with Darwin Núñez penalty and Anirudh Thapa equalizer. India coach Khalid Ahmed Jamil set team for 4-2-3-1. Uruguay manager Diego Forlán use 4-4-2.
Uruguay take lead when Federico Viñas draw foul inside penalty area. Pramveer Singh concede penalty for India. Darwin Núñez step up and convert with right foot to centre of goal. Score become India 0, Uruguay 1.
India equalize later. Anirudh Thapa hit left-footed shot from centre of box to bottom right corner. Score become India 1, Uruguay 1.
Earlier, Ryan Williams try from outside box, but Thiago Cardozo save am for centre of goal. Akash Mishra assist the attempt. Uruguay catch offside through Rodrigo Zalazar. Nahitan Nández win free kick for defensive half after Ashique Kuruniyan foul. Darwin Núñez foul Pramveer Singh, and India win free kick for defensive half. Uruguay get corner after Akash Mishra concede am. Darwin Núñez right-footed shot from right side of box blocked, Rodrigo Zalazar assist. Nahitan Nández foul Ashique Kuruniyan, India win free kick for left wing. Maxi Araújo hit right post with right-footed shot from centre of box, Rodrigo Zalazar assist. Federico Viñas foul Anirudh Thapa, India win free kick for defensive half. Lalengmawia Ralte miss right-footed shot from outside box, high and wide to left, Ryan Williams assist. Maxi Araújo win free kick for defensive half after Ashique Kuruniyan foul. Then penalty happen.
Before match, Diego Forlán talk say India football development must start from grassroots. The 2010 FIFA World Cup Golden Ball winner talk say cricket remain India main sport, but India get plenty young footballers wey need stronger development structure. He talk say India need more academies so young players go get better chance to train, develop and make domestic league stronger. Forlan talk say if India build more academies, league go stronger and stronger, and country go produce more and better players. He also talk say India need face high-quality international opposition like Brazil and Uruguay to expose players to higher level. India draw 1-1 with Panama before Brazil beat them 4-0. Forlan talk say India fit play important and crucial games in near future if dem get sustainable pathway from grassroots to academies, domestic league and national team.
Uruguay arrive Kolkata on September 30 and use days before match to adapt to local conditions. Forlan talk say humidity na challenge after team tour East Asia. He talk say weather different from Japan and Korea, so game go difficult. Before India, Uruguay lose 3-1 to Japan and beat South Korea 4-1.
Uruguay national team also embrace local culture for India ahead of friendly. Before dem enter pitch for Kolkata, the South American giants take detour to one iconic sporting venue for world to test skills for different discipline. Dem visit Eden Gardens. India vs Uruguay fixture offer India another chance to test themselves against elite opposition.
