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FIFA World Cup 2010 match 17 - Group A South Africa: Khune, Gaxa, Masilela, Mokoena, Khumalo, Tshabalala, Pienaar (Josephs 79), Modise, Letsholonyane (Moriri 57), Dikgacoi, Katlego Mphela. Uruguay: Muslera, Lugano, Godin, Fucile (A.Fernandez 71), M.Pereira, A.Pereira, Perez (Gargano 90), Arevalo Rios, Cavani (S.Fernandez 89), Suarez, Forlan. With both the opening games in this group ending in draws this game was almost a winner take all affair. Both sides wanted to take the initiative but there was only one capable of doing so. From the opening moments it was evident that Uruguay would not be bound by the defensive approach that so often characterizes their approach and in Diego Forlan, employed behind two strikers, they had the most constructive and dangerous player on the pitch. South Africa battled gamely but without any semblance of the quality required to succeed at this level and ended the night well beaten and all but out of the tournament. Forlan was able to drift all over the pitch to knit together attacking moves for Uruguay and these carried danger right from the start. The strikers ahead of him were nowhere near as assured, however, and several good positions were wasted by Saurez or Cavani finishing weakly or choosing the wrong option. For South Africa Tshabalala, goalscorer in their opening game, tried a couple of shots from distance but never looked like hitting the jackpot again. It was left to Forlan himself to break the deadlock midway through the half. Picking up possession in the hole yet again he turned to fire in a strong effort that became unstoppable after taking a deflection off the cowering Mokoena's back. Half Time: South Africa 0 Uruguay 1 The pattern remained the same after half time with South Africa lacking the quality to make their attacking efforts count. Their best moment came when Mphela got his head to a good cross from the right at the near post and was denied somewhat fortuitously by the diving Muslera. To make matters worse the referee did not notice the crucial touch and awarded a goal kick. The real danger was still at the other end and Lugano missed badly with a header from Forlan's free kick. Khune was also required to make a sharp save low to his left when Saurez finally managed a worthwhile effort from the angle. The game was finally put to bed with ten minutes remaining when Khune tripped Saurez as the forward made unconvincing progress across the face of the six yard box. The penalty was inevitable but the red card which followed seemed extremely harsh. It was debatable whether Saurez had control of the ball and he seemed to be heading away from goal rather than towards it. Not surprisingly, with emotions running high, it was some time before Khune could be persuaded to leave and the reserve keeper, Josephs, introduced in place of Pienaar. After a prolonged wait Forlan stepped up to bury a magnificent penalty into the roof of the net. This goal brought an abrupt end to the party atmosphere around South Africa. The infernal hooting stopped and almost half the crowd headed for the exits before the game had run its' course. Much has been made of the wonderful atmosphere in South Africa at this World Cup but it has seemed to have little to do with football and this showed that most of the locals are not really football fans. If they honestly believed this South African team was going to give them something serious to toot their horns to at this World Cup then no wonder they were disappointed. That was never likely to happen. The exodus spared many of the crowd the sight of a third Uruguayan goal which came in the fifth minute of stoppage time. Forlan sprayed one last ball through to Suarez who was able to take a dreadful touch and still have time to lob a simple ball across goal for Alvaro Perreira to head home from two yards out. Over and out, I would imagine, for the hosts. Full Time: South Africa 0 Uruguay 3 South Africa Ratings: Khune 5, Gaxa 4, Masilela 4, Mokoena 4, Khumalo 4, Tshabalala 4, Pienaar 5 (Josephs 3), Modise 5, Letsholonyane 3 (Moriri 4), Dikgacoi 5, Katlego Mphela 6. Uruguay: Muslera 6, Lugano 6, Godin 7, Fucile 6 (A.Fernandez 6), M.Pereira 7, A.Pereira 7, Perez 6, Arevalo Rios 5, Cavani 6, Suarez 4, Forlan 8. Referee: Massimo Busacca (Switzerland) 6 Good: The Silencing of the Vuvuzelas. Bad: The preceding eighty minutes of Vuvuzelas. Ugly: The very mention of Vuvuzelas.
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