South Africa 0-3 Uruguay

On National Youth Day in South Africa, it was an experienced old-head in Diego Forlan whose virtuoso display, culminating in a brace, left South Africa clinging onto their World Cup hopes by the skin of their teeth.

The hosts endured another disappointing opening half however this time they could not do enough to remain level at the break as a much more confident and high quality Uruguayan side controlled the game.

Uruguay first prised an opening when Forlan and Luis Suarez linked up however the angle was too tight for the latter and he sliced his effort harmlessly wide. Oscar Tabarez clearly sent his side out to make a more concerted effort to be positive in the knowledge that a win will all but see Uruguay in the round of sixteen.

South Africa for their part were more wasteful in the opening exchanges with the understandably confident winger Siphiwe Tshabalalala guilty of getting a little too carried away with his shooting prowess. Lacking in the fluency they had found as the Mexican game had wore on, set-pieces offered a chance to endanger the Uruguayan goal however Bafana Bafana failed to capitalise.

Ajax star Luis Suarez gave a glimpse of his ability in tight spaces when he turned on a sixpence to outfox Bongani Khumalo before unleashing a stinging shot which stung the palms of Itumeleng Khune in the home goal.

La Celeste took the lead halfway through the first half when Diego Forlan smashed the ball past Khune with the aid of a deflection via the upper body of the unfortunate Aaron Mokoena who was desperately trying to close the dangerman down. However Khune had a point when berating his defence for allowing Forlan enough room, given the striker's deadly ability from distance.

Uruguay continued to have the upper hand and Suarez fired into the side net from a tight angle. South Africa created few chances but Teko Modise did cross in for Katiego Mphela who nodded wide under not inconsiderable pressure from Diego Godin.

After the break, South Africa came under more pressure. After a Mokoena slip, Edinson Cavani found Luis Suarez in the box but the solid leftback Tsepo Masilela just about snuffed out the danger. Suarez tortured Khumalo throughout and looked to claim a penalty when pulled down by the centreback on the edge of the box. Refusing to bow to Uruguayan pressure, Massimo Busacca showed why he is one of the best officials in the world as replays indicated that the initial contact was outside the area.

The hosts were largely penned back in their own half though Mphela did give the vuvuzela blowers reason to burst into chorus when he flicked a near post header just wide with Fernando Muslera committed. That was to be as good as it got for the toothless South Africans.

Things went from bad to worse for the hosts when they had keeper Khune dismissed for bringing down Luis Suarez with a trailing left foot which left Busacca no other option. Replacement goalie Moneeb Josephs faced Forlan however he was powerless to stop a simply unsavable penalty. The icing on the cake came with seconds remaining when Alvaro Pereira nodded in from a pinpoint Luis Suarez cross.