Forlan powers Uruguay past SA

Uruguay’s Diego Forlan blasted a stunning 25-metre goal in the 24th minute and added a penalty kick as the two-time world champions beat host nation South Africa 3-0 Wednesday in a World Cup match. As a result, the South Americans moved top of the Group A standings by winning the first match of the second phase of opening-round World Cup play, with Group A rivals France and Mexico set to meet on Thursday.

“The result doesn’t reflect what happened in the match,” said South Africa coach Carlos Alberto Parreira.

“But Uruguay are a good team with good players, like Forlan. Their experience told at important moments. Our hopes are not over. We need to beat France, but we will have to be more aggressive.”

Atletico Madrid star Forlan opened the scoring by slamming a right-footed shot from well outside the penalty area which tucked under the crossbar, leaving South African goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune helpless.

The South Africans were undone in the 76th minute when Khune was issued a red card by Swiss referee Massimo Busacca.

Khune was trying to keep the ball from Ajax star Luis Suarez but caught the front of the Uruguyan’s left boot with his foot and was immediately dismissed. Reserve goalkeeper Moeneeb Josephs entered in place of South African striker Steven Pienaar to replace Khune, but was helpless to deny Forlan’s powerful penalty kick high to his left and into the net in the 80th minute.

The 10-man hosts pressed forward but were largely contained by the South Americans and they killed the game off with Porto’s Alvaro Pereira adding a final goal for Uruguay in the fifth minute of stoppage time. PRETORIA, AFP