The South African World Cup bid suffered a devastating blow as they lost 3-0 to an impressive Uruguay side in the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria. Diego Forlan scored twice and was instrumental throughout the game in what was probably the best individual performance seen so far at the 2010 World Cup. The result leaves Bafana Bafana with the prospect of having to beat 2006 finalists France to progress to the knockout stages.
The South Africans started well enough, and the final score flattered Uruguay somewhat, but the result was the correct one. Twice in the first 25 minutes Siphiwe Tshabalala found space but both times went for goal with teammates in good positions. In particular one opening saw him attempt an ambitious chip rather than play in Steven Pienaar on the left side of the box. Their game was full of endeavour and they were a little unlucky in falling behind. Diego Forlan picked up the ball with his back to goal some 40 yards out, and without much pressure on the ball he turned, ran towards goal, steadied himself and fired in what looked an outstanding shot given the much-derided Jabulani ball being used in this tournament. On closer inspection it became clear that Forlan’s shot had taken a deflection off Aaron Mokoena, causing it to loop up and then dip under Khune’s crossbar. Uruguay pressed for a second immediately, Ajax striker Luis Suarez firing into the side netting after a neat bit of dribbling. Forlan played in Edinson Cavani with a lovely curling pass but Cavani couldn’t control it. The half finished 1-0, South Africa still in the competition but having been outplayed for much of the half.
Minutes after the restart, Suarez went down in the South Africa box but the referee wasn’t convinced and judged that Suarez, who was chewing on a large piece of cotton wool due to an earlier clash, had gone down too easily. A wide free kick from Forlan saw Uruguay captain Diego Lugano mistime his header so badly that it came off the back of his neck. South Africa almost got back in the game when rightback Siboniso Gaxa, who has played well in both his games so far, swerved in a cross for Katlego Mphela but the striker failed to make good contact with his head and the ball went wide. That proved the turning point as only minutes later Uruguay went 2-0 up in controversial circumstances.
A break by Suarez down the left had seen his shot parried, and a hurried South African clearance fell at the feet of Forlan. His shot ricocheted off Cavani and bounced to Suarez, whose first touch took him away from the onrushing Khune. The goalkeeper’s outstretched foot caught Suarez on the ankle and down he went, the referee blowing immediately for a penalty and sending Khune for an early bath. After a long delay while South Africa’s substitute keeper Moneeb Josephs put his boots on and got onto the pitch, Forlan stepped up to confidently crash the penalty into the top of the net. However, the red card was certainly harsh, with the ball coming off Suarez heading back towards the South African defenders there was no clear denial of a goalscoring opportunity, though Khune’s challenge was rash and definitely a foul. Also, though Suarez was onside when Forlan shot, he was offside by the time the ball ricocheted off Cavani, and so it should not have been a penalty.
Nonetheless, the South Africans did not play well and deserved to lose, though the last minute third goal from Alvaro Pereira was a harsh reflection of an open and exciting game. Bafana Bafana will have to find more firepower from somewhere if they are to win their final game, and a lot still depends on the game between Mexico and France. As things stand, the hosts face a serious battle to stay in the competition. |
