South Africa vs Uruguay, Pretoria: Hosts blown away by Diego Forlan (South Africa 0, Uruguay 3)

South African hopes were dashed with their goalkeeper Khune and Kagisho Dikgacoi left treated coldly by the referee on a chilly wintry night at Pretoria. A 3-0 defeat in the hands of Uruguay and two of their main players missing from action against France in their next match would peg back the hopes of the hosts to progress to the next round after their impressive start on June11.

Diego Forlan played elegantly and effectively to dominate the midfield and provide two goals for his side that momentarily silenced the buzzing vuvuzelas. After a first half in which Forlan’s long range strike provided the only goal, much of the second half witnessed good build-up and attack by Uruguay and desperate defending by South Africa. The 78^th minute had Uruguay not only two goals ahead but also playing against ten men. The 95^th minute header by Pereira further rubbed salt into their wounds.

Diego Forlan: was pretty much the difference between the two sides

Although not entirely coordinated in their passing and build-ups, the South Africans were sprightly and quick. Uruguay, on the other hand were not at all like a typical South American team – there were more of aerial balls and volleys and headers, like the English team with the experienced Forlan being the fulcrum of the attack. The first real chance of the match came in the 23^rd minute off a close range volley from the edge of the penalty area by Luis Suarez which went directly to the hands of the goalkeeper. A minute later the goal arrived all of a sudden off Diego Forlan’s fantastic strike from the midfield area. No one had anticipated it coming, and all of a sudden the Uruguayans celebrated and the vuvuzelas stopped humming. The ball dipped significantly for the ball to enter the net which dispelled doubts about whether the Jabulani ball could dip and be controlled, although there was a very slight deflection off the head of a defender on its way through.

The South American side had become confident. In the 33^rd minute, Suarez came close to goal but side-netted. Both teams wasted time passing to their back fours just before the close of the first half. The telling blow came in the form of a second yellow card of the tournament for a tackle for Kagisho Dikgacoi. It meant he would have to miss the next crucial encounter with 1998 Champions France.

The hosts got their first shot on target after a wait of 66 minutes, but it was hardly menacing. In the 78^th minute one of Uruguay’s attacking moves finally paid off as it penetrated the defence and the ball fell agonisingly close to goal for the keeper to tackle the player who was already offside. It turned out to be a costly tackle again as Itumeleng Khune got a straight red from the referee.

Vuvuzelas never hummed the same way again. South Africa desperately tried to find its way through Uruguayan defence but to no avail. And then, in a final assault Diego Forlan’s huge cross fell to Suarez at the edge of the penalty area who himself aerially passed it to Porto player Alvaro Pereira who headed in the third and final goal to end the match there itself.

The hosts got a serious jolt in this match, and it only makes their next match against France very crucial for their survival. If they want to have any chance to make it to the next round, they must have to defeat France who looked lacklustre against Uruguay in their first match. But they would have to start without two of their main players.

A mountain to climb for their famous coach Alberto Pereira.