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Uruguay demolishes hosts South Africa 3-0

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-06-17 06:34

PRETORIA, South Africa - Uruguay demolished hosts South Africa 3-0 thanks to Diego Forlan's two goals at the World Cup Group A match here on Wednesday.

Uruguay's players celebrate the win over South Africa after their 2010 World Cup Group A soccer match at Loftus Versfeld stadium in Pretoria June 16, 2010. [Agencies]?

This was the third meeting between South Africa and Uruguay at senior national team level and Uruguay had one win and one draw earlier.

Uruguay changed the history that before the match South American sides are yet to beat a host nation during the first round of the World Cup, and South Africa's unbeaten record in matches played in the city of Pretoria was also rewritten.

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Siphiwe Tshabalala of South Africa continued his good form to hit a shot which went over the crossbar at the 14th minute. And two minutes later, the scorer in the opening match against Mexico made another shot but the ball went wide again.

Uruguay played just two warm-up matches in 2010 but netted seven goals. After containing France 0-0 in the first match, the South Americans began to find their attacking power.

The two-time world champion took the control of the game as at the 24th minute when Forlan struck the ball, which took a deflection off the back of South Africa's Aaron Mokoena for Uruguay's lead 1-0.

The Bafana Bafana had to come from one goal down but saw their several attempts off the target. At the 41st minute, South Africa stood a good chance but Katlego Mphela's header went narrowly off target.

South Africa missed an equaliser at the 67th minute when Mphela's header went wide. Three minutes later, Teko Modise made South Africa's first shot on target, which was blocked by Uruguay's goalkeeper Fernando Muslera.

It was South Africa's nightmare at the 78th minute when goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune was red-carded after tripping Luis Suarez in the penalty area.

Forlan powered home the penalty at the 80th minute, being the first player to score two goals in one match in 2010 World Cup. Uruguay led 2-0.

Alvaro Pereira made it three for Uruguay with a header in the last minute of injury time.

At a post-match press conference, Uruguay's head coach Oscar Washington Tabarez said that "As I told my players we have to write the history in this match. The result is very good indeed and we are of course very happy."

South African coach Carlos Alberto Parreira explained their loss: "The whole expectations are high for us and this group is a difficult group with Uruguay and France as former world champions. We are going to carry on fighting and striving to go on."

Parreira was irritated about the performance of the referee. "Everyone was irritated by the dispelling of our goalkeeper. Perhaps he is the worst referee in the match and he is not deserved to be here," he added.

With four points to their credit, Uruguay will be more confident to play their last group game against Mexico while South Africa will have to notch up a must-win clash against France or they might become the first host team to exit in the group stage in World Cup history.