**Uruguay have one foot in the last 16 of the World Cup after beating hosts South Africa 3-0 in Pretoria thanks to the impressive Diego Forlan's brace and a last-gasp Alvaro Pereira goal.
Forlan gave the South American side the lead midway through the first half with a 30-yard effort that took a slight deflection as the ball dipped over Bafana Bafana goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune and into the back of the net off the underside of the bar.
The former Manchester United and Villarreal striker made the game safe with a second goal from the penalty spot after Khune, who was sent off, had tripped the lively Luis Suarez before Alvaro Pereira added a late third.
In truth, Uruguay deserved to win by three goals as they had far too much guile, spirit and invention for South Africa who are now facing the real prospect of being knocked out of the tournament they are hosting at the group stage.
Uruguay had the edge in all departments although South Africa had the first attempt on goal when Siphiwe Tshabalala, scorer of a superb goal against Mexico, tried his luck again but this time his effort was way too high.
Jorge Fucile fired a shot wide for Uruguay who took the lead in the 24th minute What appeared to be a speculative Forlan strike seemed to going way over the bar, but a deflection caused it to dip and completely deceive the stranded Khune.
Suarez almost added a second goal from a tight angle in the 33rd minute only to shoot into the side-netting as Uruguay continued to dominate the first half.
There was very little for the home fans to enthuse about as their team was distinctly second-best throughout the game and Uruguay's dominance continued at the start of the second half.
Suarez eased past Aaron Mokoena and pulled the back from the byline for Edinson Cavani who couldn't turn the ball goalwards.
Suarez then appeared to have been felled inside the area but the referee waved play on and, in the 54th minute, the outstanding Forlan's free-kick found the unmarked Diego Lugano who contrived to let the ball hit him on the back of the neck when any sort of proper contact would surely have resulted in a goal.
In the 68th minute Cavani failed to get a good connection on another Forlan cross as yet another chance went begging but Uruguay finally made the game safe in the closing stages.
Khune was quite rightly sent off when Suarez went down after being caught by the outstretched boot of the goalkeeper and, after a four-minute delay Forlan beat substitute goalkeeper Moeneeb Josephs.
With virtually last kick of the game, after great work by Forlan and Suarez, Alvaro Pereira had the simple task of forcing the ball home to put the seal on Uruguay's dominance.
Forlan gave the South American side the lead midway through the first half with a 30-yard effort that took a slight deflection as the ball dipped over Bafana Bafana goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune and into the back of the net off the underside of the bar.
The former Manchester United and Villarreal striker made the game safe with a second goal from the penalty spot after Khune, who was sent off, had tripped the lively Luis Suarez before Alvaro Pereira added a late third.
In truth, Uruguay deserved to win by three goals as they had far too much guile, spirit and invention for South Africa who are now facing the real prospect of being knocked out of the tournament they are hosting at the group stage.
Uruguay had the edge in all departments although South Africa had the first attempt on goal when Siphiwe Tshabalala, scorer of a superb goal against Mexico, tried his luck again but this time his effort was way too high.
Jorge Fucile fired a shot wide for Uruguay who took the lead in the 24th minute What appeared to be a speculative Forlan strike seemed to going way over the bar, but a deflection caused it to dip and completely deceive the stranded Khune.
Suarez almost added a second goal from a tight angle in the 33rd minute only to shoot into the side-netting as Uruguay continued to dominate the first half.
There was very little for the home fans to enthuse about as their team was distinctly second-best throughout the game and Uruguay's dominance continued at the start of the second half.
Suarez eased past Aaron Mokoena and pulled the back from the byline for Edinson Cavani who couldn't turn the ball goalwards.
Suarez then appeared to have been felled inside the area but the referee waved play on and, in the 54th minute, the outstanding Forlan's free-kick found the unmarked Diego Lugano who contrived to let the ball hit him on the back of the neck when any sort of proper contact would surely have resulted in a goal.
In the 68th minute Cavani failed to get a good connection on another Forlan cross as yet another chance went begging but Uruguay finally made the game safe in the closing stages.
Khune was quite rightly sent off when Suarez went down after being caught by the outstretched boot of the goalkeeper and, after a four-minute delay Forlan beat substitute goalkeeper Moeneeb Josephs.
With virtually last kick of the game, after great work by Forlan and Suarez, Alvaro Pereira had the simple task of forcing the ball home to put the seal on Uruguay's dominance.
Source : Football.co.uk
Team Line-up:
South Africa: Itumeleng Khune; Siboniso Gaxa, Tsepo Masilela, Bongani Khumalo, Aaron Mokoena, Reneilwe Letsholonyane (Surprise Moriri 57), Kagisho Dikgacoi, Steven Pienaar (Moeneeb Josephs 79), teakettle Modise, Siphiwe Tshabalala; Katlego Mphela.
Uruguay: Fernando Muslera; Diego Lugano, Diego Godin, Jorge Fucile (Alvaro Fernandez 71), Maximiliano Pereira, Diego Perez (Walter Gargano 90), Egidio Arevalo , Edinson Cavani (Sebastian Fernandez 89), Alvaro Pereira, Luis Suarez, Diego Forlan.
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