PRETORIA--South Africa is on the verge of becoming the first World Cup host to be knocked out in the group phase following a comprehensive3-0 defeat to Uruguay on Wednesday night.

After drawing the opening match with Mexico last Friday, the Bafana Bafana were schooled by the Uruguayans who were led by a Diego Forlandouble and an injury-time strike by Alvaro Pereira.

Forlan struck in the 24th minute with a deflected drive from 25 meters out before the former Manchester United striker made it 2-0 10minutes to time with a penalty, following a straight red card for SouthAfrican goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune, who took down Luis Suarez inside hisown area.

South Africa now must beat 2006 finalist and 1998 winner France in its last game on Tuesday at Bloemfontein to finish in the top two ofGroup A to reach the second round.

Uruguay sits pretty on four points after a 0-0 with France in its first match, and will face Mexico at Rustenburg also on Tuesday..

"Right now, we're hoping for other teams and that's not a good position, " said captain Aaron Mokoena, whose side fought Uruguay to agoalless draw in a friendly in September.

"The most important thing is that we show belief. It's always not good to lose, especially the way we did. But we have to move on andprepare for France."

Coach Oscar Tabarez is on the brink of taking Uruguay to the Round of 16 for the first time since the 1990 tournament. The 1930 and 1950champions did not even qualify for Germany four years ago.

"We are extremely happy," said Tabarez. "I think we have beaten a very good team that was also in a position to win the match. Nothing hasbeen decided in our group, but I think we have taken a very importantstep forward."

South Africa coach Carlos Alberto Parreira was blasted referee Massimo Busacca after the game, accusing the Swiss official of beingbiased toward Uruguay.

"We are very disappointed with the referee," Parreira said. "Myself and everyone said it was the worst referee of this competition so far,and he was very unfair from the beginning, the way he acted toward ourteam.

"He was giving fouls that weren't fouls, giving yellow cards that weren 't yellow cards and then he left the ground with a big smile onhis face.

"I hope we don't see his face again because he does not deserve to be here."

SOUTH AFRICA: Khune, Gaxa, Masilela, Mokoena, Tshabalala, Mphela, Pienaar (Josephs 79), Modise, Letsholonyane (Moriri 57), Dikgacoi,Khumalo

URUGUAY: Muslera, Lugano, Godin, Fucile (Fernandez 71), Cavani ( Fernandez 89), Suarez, Forlan, A. Pereira, Perez (Gargano 90), E.Pereira, Arevalo Eee