Full-time - 90'
South Africa
0 - 3
Uruguay
Group A, 18:30 GMT, June 16, 2010

Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria, South Africa

Two-goal hero Diego Forlan moved to the top of the goalscoring charts and helped Uruguay to a 3-0 victory over South Africa that leaves the World Cup hosts on the brink of a group-stage exit.


MATCH SUMMARY

Man of the Match: Diego Forlan - A tough call between him and the excellent Luis Suarez. Deployed in a deeper role by Tabarez, Forlan excelled. Dictating play from his withdrawn position, Forlan also coaxed an improved performance out of Luis Suarez. His long-range strike, albeit with the aid of a deflection, opened the scoring, and he showed nerves of steel to convert an 80th minute penalty.

South Africa verdict: The hosts were bright before the break, showing energy and enthusiasm, but this wasn't converted into fluent football. Too often they found themselves in good positions only to show inexperience, and possibly nerves, in the final third. Once Forlan gave Uruguay the lead, there was little doubt over the outcome of this one.

Uruguay verdict: Tabarez has to be congratulated for getting his tactics spot on for this game. Switching to a 4-3-3 formation for this match, Diego Forlan dictated the game from his deep-lying position. With Forlan anchoring the attack, Luis Suarez was free to roam into a central position, looking far more dangerous than he did in Uruguay's opener.

Could do better: Aaron Mokoena. The South Africa captain was exposed by the lively Luis Suarez on a number of occasions, frequently resulting in Mokoena having to bring down the Ajax man. Also at fault for the goal his team conceded against Mexico, he will be bitterly disappointed with how his World Cup has unfolded. The Portsmouth defender will be wanting to make amends in Bafana Bafana's final group game against France.

Stat attack: Diego Forlan is the first player to score two goals at this World Cup. The last Uruguay player with a brace was Juan Holberg, in 1954, versus Hungary.

Forlan's first goal was a deflected 25-yard effort and the second came from the penalty spot late on after an incident which saw South Africa goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune sent off.

Alvaro Pereira than wrapped up a deserved victory for dominant Uruguay in stoppage time as the South Americans moved onto four points in Group A and within touching distance of a place in the last 16.

For South Africa, who barely troubled Fernando Muslera's goal during the match, the defeat means they have just the one point from their two matches and are now in some trouble.

Bafana Bafana's final group game is a potentially tough encounter with 1998 world champions and 2006 runners-up France next Tuesday, while Uruguay meet Mexico.

South Africa coach Carlos Alberto Parreira kept faith with the majority of the side that started their opening game against the Mexicans, with the only switch seeing defender Tsepo Masiella come in for Lucas Thwala.

Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez, meanwhile, made two changes to the side that started Friday's goalless draw with France in Cape Town.

As expected, Edinson Cavani was brought in to form a three-pronged forward line with Forlan and Luis Suarez, while defender Jorge Fucile was also included, with Mauricio Victoriano and Ignacio Gonzalez the men to make way.

Parreira felt that, having got their opening game out of the way, his side would be much more confident and relaxed for their second outing. However, they immediately found themselves on the back foot once again as Uruguay started brightly and they had four early shots on goal, although none of them troubled Khune.

Siphiwe Tshabalala, whose thunderous finish gave South Africa the lead against Mexico, briefly tried to mount a fightback with two long-range efforts but neither were on target and in the 25th minute Bafana Bafana found themselves a goal down.

Parreira had singled out Forlan as a player his side needed to keep a close eye on, and it was the Atletico Madrid striker who did the damage.

Never afraid to shoot when within sight of goal, Forlan let fly from 25 yards and saw his effort loop over Khune with the aid of a slight but crucial deflection off home captain Aaron Mokoena, the ball clipping the crossbar en route to going in.

That lead was no more than Uruguay deserved, and they almost doubled their advantage in the 32nd minute when Suarez's rising shot hit the side-netting.

The half-time break probably could not have come quick enough for South Africa, but it was Uruguay who continued to boss the game at the start of the second period.

Cavani put a reasonable chance wide early on before the unmarked Uruguay captain Diego Lugano made a mess of trying to turn a Forlan free-kick goalwards.

Then, from nowhere, South Africa almost snatched an equaliser in the 66th minute when Mphela got in front of Uruguay goalkeeper Muslera to get on the end of Siboniso Gaxa's cross. However, the big number nine could not direct his glancing header on target.

South Africa's hopes of getting anything out of the game were crushed in the 76th minute when they conceded a penalty and lost goalkeeper Khune to a red card.

Forlan's mis-hit shot found its way through to the wide-open Suarez inside the area and, as he looked to round Khune, his foot was clipped by the South African and the Ajax forward went tumbling.

Khune protested his innocence but there was no swaying referee Massimo Busacca, who pointed to the spot and gave the goalkeeper his marching orders.

After a lengthy delay while South Africa reserve custodian Moeneeb Josephs replaced Steven Pienaar, Forlan ensured the maximum punishment from the spot to spark an early exodus for many disappointed home fans.

Those who left early missed Uruguay's final goal in stoppage time, when Pereira bundled home Suarez's cross from virtually on the line.