PRETORIA, South Africa (AP)—South African fans blew their vuvuzelas long and loud, hoping to bring their team luck in the World Cup.

Uruguay’s Diego Forlan had other ideas and brought the party to a crashing halt, scoring two goals in a 3-0 victory Wednesday night that pushed the hosts closer to exiting the first World Cup staged in Africa. That would be a first for a host country in the tournament.

“It will be a disaster for us, the home country, to go out in the first round,” star midfielder Steven Pienaar said.
While Forlan greatly improved Uruguay’s chances of making the second round, Bafana Bafana almost certainly must beat France in its next game to stay alive.

If South Africa doesn’t advance, “obviously all the expectations of the nation will be frustrated,” coach Carlos Alberto Parreira said. “This game was vital for us to at least get a draw.”

As disappointing as it would be if South Africa does go out, Pienaar said the nation would not lose interest.

“It won’t change the World Cup,” he said. “People are having fun.”

Forlan scored on a deflected 25-yard shot in the 24th minute, then converted a penalty kick in the 80th minute for a commanding lead. Alvaro Pereira added a goal in stoppage time.

“Obviously, as a forward I like to score goals, but the important thing is to win,” Forlan said. “The team is good. We also played well against France. We’re very solid.”

Making matters worse for South Africa, goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune was ejected by Swiss referee Massimo Busacca in the 76th minute for clipping the leg of Luis Suarez as the forward jumped over him in front of an open net. Khune lowered his head to the ground and angrily pounded the field with both fists.

Parreira called Busacca “the worst referee in this competition so far.”

“I hope I don’t see his face in any game anymore,” he said.

Backup Moneeb Josephs took over in goal as Pienaar exited.

Forlan put the penalty kick over the goalkeeper’s outstretched right hand for his second goal, matching his pair for Atletico Madrid against Fulham in last month’s Europa League final.

The constant bee-like noise from the vuvuzelas immediately ebbed, and streams of fans started exiting, leaving thousands of empty blue seats by the time Pereira knocked in Suarez’s cross.

Uruguay, which opened with a 0-0 draw against France, has four points going into its group-play finale against Mexico on Tuesday. South Africa wasted a second-half lead in a 1-1 tie against Mexico in last week’s World Cup opener, and has one point. It plays France on Tuesday in Bloemfontein.
“We are convinced that we can win the World Cup,” Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez said. “We don’t have a lot of room to maneuver. We have to play very well each time. Winning this victory over the home team, the national squad, with all the fans behind them, this was not easy.”