South Africa 0 Uruguay 3: Hosts facing an early exit after Forlan inspires Uruguay to win

PROUD hosts South Africa were left facing the prospect of an early World Cup exit after slumping to defeat at the hands of a Diego Forlan-inspired Uruguay in Pretoria last night.

Forlan scored Uruguay's opening two goals, the first a deflected 25-yard effort and the second from the penalty spot late on after an incident which saw home goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune sent off.

Alvaro Pereira than wrapped up a deserved victory for dominant Uruguay in stoppage time as the South Americans moved onto four points in Group A and within touching distance of a place in the last 16.

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For South Africa, who barely troubled Fernando Muslera's goal during the match, the defeat means they have just the one point from their two matches and their final group game is with 1998 world champions and 2006 runners-up France next Tuesday, while Uruguay meet Mexico.

South Africa coach Carlos Alberto Parreira had singled out Forlan as a player his side needed to keep a close eye on, and it was the Atletico Madrid striker who did the damage.

Never afraid to shoot when within sight of goal, Forlan let fly from 25 yards and saw his effort loop over Khune with the aid of a slight but crucial deflection off home captain Aaron Mokoena, the ball clipping the crossbar en route to going in.

South Africa's hopes of getting anything out of the game were crushed in the 76th minute when they conceded a penalty after goalkeeper Khune earned red card for tripping Luis Suarez after he had run on to Forlan's mis-hit shot.

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Khune protested his innocence but there was no swaying referee Massimo Busacca leaving Forlan to stroke home a cool penalty for a 2-0 lead.

Pereira's late strike just rubbed salt into the host nation's gaping wounds as supporters trudged off into the night.

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