South Africa lose to Uruguay
Posted: 16 June 2010 Time: 22:30
Diego Forlan and his strike partner Luis Suarez produced sterling performances to help Uruguay beat Bafana Bafana 3-0 at the Loftus stadium on Wednesday night.
The South Americans were on the offensive from the start. Bafana skipper Aaron Mokoena's challenge on Luis Suarez, which appeared dubious, was a sign of bad things to come for Bafana. From the resultant set piece Steven Pienaar became the first player on the night to go into referee Massimo Busacca's book when 'Schillo' charged out early and stopped the shot with his hand, but a retake by Diego Forlan was blocked to safety by Siphiwe Tshabalala.
Suarez was back in the picture in the eighth minute when his shot went wide just to Itumeleng Khune's right, but it was too far off target.
The pressure game finally paid off for Forlan and company in the 24th minute when the former Manchester United striker's shot from on the edge of the box deflected Mokoena giving Khune no chance.
South Africa's half chance fell to Katlego Mphela in the 40th minute. Teko Modise put in a decent cross for ‘Killer', but the latter saw his header go over the bar.
For the better part of the first half Bafana failed to once break the Uruguayan defence and the La Celeste certainly deserved their 1-0 lead going into the break.
Uruguay continued where they left off in the first half. Suarez, the Ajax Amsterdam striker, weaved his way into the box in the 52nd minute and was brought down by Tsepo Masilela, but the referee waved play on, when it could easily have been a penalty. Aware of Uruguay's dominance Bafana coach Carlos Alberto Parreira hauled off Reneilwe Letsholonyane and brought in Surprise Moriri.
However, the surprise was to be provided by the Uruguayans in the 76th minute when Suarez went down under a challenge from Khune and the referee pointed to the spot. The Kaizer Chiefs goalie received marching orders and Pienaar came off to make way for Moeneeb Josephs. Forlan stabbed home from the penalty spot to hand Uruguay a 2-0 lead and some Bafana supporters got off their seats to leave, but they missed the last goal for Uruguay.
In time added on Uruguay put the final nail in the coffin. Forlan played an inch perfect pass to Suarez out wide on the right and Suarez's cross lobbed Josephs for Alvaro Pereira to head into an empty net and 3-0 it finished.
HOME: South Africa
- 32 Itumeleng Khune
- 4 Bongani Khumalo
- 5 Aaron Mokoena
- 24 Tsepo Masilela
- 32 Siboniso Gaxa
- 6 Reneilwe Letsholonyane
57 mins - Surprise Moriri - 6 Kagisho Dikgacoi
- 13 Teko Modise
- 14 Siphiwe Tshabalala
- 20 Steven Pienaar
79 mins - Moeneeb Josephs - 7 Katlego Mphela
AWAY: Uruguay
- 1 Fernando Muslera
- 2 Diego Lugano
- 3 Diego Godín
- 13 Jorge Fucile
71 mins - Álvaro Fernández - 16 Maximiliano Pereira
- 5 Egidio Arévalo
- 6 Álvaro Pereira
- 15 Diego Pérez
90 mins - Walter Gargano - 9 Luis Suárez
- 10 Diego Forlán
- 21 Edinson Cavani
89 mins - Sebastián Fernández
Previous comments on this story...
I dont think the penalty was valid though. it should have been an offside.
Now what?. Beat France? Please!
the SA coach is not good at all, he has no bench, where is nomvete, he was busy playing friendly with 99th class countries, he do not want to expose the team with a big country for them to have the fill of pressure, look at today every south American team play the same way and the same style.just tell me how they will face France, because France will come out with confidence, where is the vuvuzela people, i did not hear them blow it today it help a lot, i can see some of them left the stadium before the final witsall .
To my SA brother, i am a Nigerian and i support all African Nation, i am not happy with SA formation of play, in fact the coach made a great mistake by not taking Benni Mccati, his present only would have been like the present of this Diego Folan, Benni is a big play and he still have something more to do for SA even if it is 20 min to go he can still do something, look at the attack no body could even take risk, i don't know if they are afraid to enter the 18 yard box, to be sincere i am not happy.look at how your captain is suffering today because the midfild has fallen where is pienner? we cant find him.
This ref i stupid why did he give up to 5 min, that is why they score again, is a disgrace to a host country, i don't like this.
This is also a lesson for some south africans that come to kick off nigeria to wish Nigeria badluck. It is uncalled for and I wish South Africans should get behind Nigeria and the other africans.
I feel sad for SA although all hope is not lost. SA must improve dramatically though - because I dont think they are currently able to handle teams with big names like France.
Biggest disappointment was to see SA fans leave in droves more than 10 minutes before the end. That was poor and the fans should know better.
This is also a lesson for some south africans that come to kick off nigeria to wish Nigeria badluck. It is uncalled for and I wish South Africans should get behind Nigeria and the other africans.