South Africa 0 Uruguay 3

Diego Forlan, national hero of Uruguay tonight, was the first player in this World Cup to score a brace of goals in Uruguay’s 3-0 destruction of host team South Africa at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria, where the team had been unbeaten before tonight.

Uruguay started to threaten on 23’, when Suarez saw Khune save his searing shot and on 24’, Forlan pounced from 30 metres, sending his shot screeching into the top of the net with Khune stranded. A world-class strike and candidate for goal of the competition.

Uruguay had several half-chances before Forlan scored his brace. On 76’ Khune brought down Suarez (a polemical decision, but FIFA does not allow hi-tech to interfere with “the spirit of the game”) and was sent off. Forlan belted the penalty past the second goalkeeper, Moneeb Josephs.

Alvaro Pereira added Uruguay’s third in injury time.

Line-ups

South Africa: Khune, Gaxa, Masilela, Mokoena, Tshabalala, Mphela, Pienaar (Josephs, Guarda-redes), Modise, Letsholonyane (Moriri), Dikgacoi, Khumalo

Uruguay: Muslera, Lugano, Godin, Fucile (A. Fernandez), Cavani (S. Fernandez), Suarez, Forlan, A. Pereira, Perez (Gargano), M. Pereira, Arevalo