Final Score - WC2010 Second Round, Uruguay vs Argentina

Saturday 26th June 2010 - Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth - Att. 84,377
Referee: Wolfgang Stark (Germany)

LINEUPS:
Uruguay (442): Muslera, M Pereira, Fucile, Lugano, Victorino, Arevalo (A Fernandez 66'), A Pereira (Gonzales 101'), Perez, Suarez, Forlan, Cavani (Eguren 77')
Argentina (442): Romero, Otamendi (Garce 73'), Heinze, Demichelis, Bolatti, Mascherano, Rodriguez, Di Marla (Veron 73'), Higuain, Tevez (Palermo 90'), Messi

Uruguay returned to their first choice lineup with both Fucile and Victorino returning from suspension, but Nicolas Burdisso was missing for Argentina through injury. His replacement, Mario Bolatti, slots into his place.

The opening twenty minutes saw Alvaro Pereira buzzing around for Uruguay creating problems for their opponents, and the first chance of the match was on his head in the 6th minute but his effort flew wide. Once Argentina had settled their first real attack was a masterclass in passing. Heinze and Maxi Rodriguez exchanged the ball with flair before Rodriguez pulled the ball back to the edge of the area for Gonzalo Higuain to hammer into the back of the net; his second goal of the tournament.

Uruguay relied on Alvaro Pereira to get them back on track and it was his shot that deflected off a defender for a corner nine minutes after they fell behind. The delivery was a good one and while Luis Suarez was unable to direct his header on goal, it did fall kindly for an alert Diego Perez and the scoreline was even again. At this point the match became rather cagey but right on the stroke of halftime Uruguay's Suarez ran on to his goalkeeper's clearance and fed it neatly through for Maximillano Pereira but he was unable to get around Romero at full stretch.

The second half continued the cagey motif with fifteen minutes of non-action with the next chances coming from Argentina who took a pair of shots from way out, both from Carlos Tevez. He came close both times with the second brushing the top of the crossbar just a few minutes after his first effort crashed against the frame of the goal from thirty yards out.

Normal time ran out with both teams playing it safe and the only real effort in extra time came from Alvaro Pereira whose long range shot deflected to force Romero to make a smart save and the second round begins with a penalty shootout. Uruguay won the toss and Luis Suarez took himself out to the penalty spot to start proceedings. His rather tame effort was save by Sergio Romero and the next seven penalty takers converted successfully for a 4-3 Argentine advantage. The fifth Uruguayan to step up was substitute Ignacio Gonzalez who blasted his effort over the bar leaving Argentina to progress on to the quarterfinals.

Uruguay 1 (aet) 1 Argentina, Argentina win 4-3 on penalties
Goalscorers:
ARG Higuain 23'
URU Perez 33'

Penalty Shootout:
URU Saurez, Perez, Forlan, M Pereira, Gonzalez
ARG Messi, Higuain, Heinze, Rodriguez

Discipline:
URU M Pereira 42'

Man of the Match:
ARG Maxi Rodriguez

Final Score - WC2010 Group A, Mexico vs Uruguay

Tuesday 22nd June 2010 - Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Rustenburg - Att. 33,425
Referee: Viktor Kassai (Hungary)

LINEUPS:
Mexico (442): O Perez, Osorio (Aguillar 65'), Salcido, Rodriguez, Moreno (Castro 45'), Marquez, Juarez, Torrado, Franco, Dos Santos (Hernandez 56'), Guardado
Uruguay (442): Muslera, M Pereira, Scotti, Lugano, Gonzalez, Arevalo (Gorgano 76'), A Pereira, D Perez, Suarez, Forlan, Cavani (Abreu 68')

While Uruguay had both Fucile and Victorino suspended, it was not until this final group game that Mexico had any kind of disciplinary problems picking up four bookings in their 2-0 loss. It was Mexico who generated the first chance when Guillermo Franco shot from a tight angle forcing a save out of Muslera. The rest of the match was largely dictated by Uruguay with their trickery leading to some mistimed tackles and set piece opportunities. After Guardado scythed down an all but clear Arevalo the deadlock was broken by Luis Suarez ripping the ball up and over the wall.

Suarez had a second free kick eight minutes later that he thundered through a poor defensive wall leaving Oscar Perez no chance in his goal. The first half ended on a sour note when Egidio Arevalo was again brought down hard leading to a booking for Salcido but also the victim for retaliation.

Uruguay continued to control the pace of the game in the second half but were in no hurry to press the attack. Mexico were wasteful when they did gain possession, Hernandez coming closest by shooting wide in the final ten minutes.

Mexico 0 - 2 Uruguay
Goalscorers:
URU Suarez 29'
URU Suarez 37'


Discipline:
URU Cavani 26'
MEX Guardado 28'
MEX Marquez 28'
MEX Salcido 45'
URU Arevalo 45'
MEX Osorio 57'

Man of the Match:
URU Luis Suarez

GROUP A
Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
Uruguay	3	3	0	0	6	1	+5	9
Mexico	3	1	1	1	3	2	+1	4
France	2	0	1	1	0	2	-2	1
South Africa	2	0	0	2	1	5	-4	0

Final Score - WC2010 Group A, South Africa vs Uruguay

Wednesday 16th June 2010 - Loftus Versfield Stadium, Pretoria - Att. 42,658
Referee: Massimo Busacca (Switzerland)

LINEUPS
South Africa (451): Khune, Gaxa, Masilela (Davids 45'), Khumalo, Mokoena, Letsholongre, Pienaar (Moriri 79'), Dikgacol, Mphela (Parker 59'), Tshabalala, Modise
Uruguay (442): Muslera, M Pereira, Fucile (Godin 57'), Lugano, Victorino, Arevalo, A Pereira, Perez, Suarez (Lodeiro 86'), Forlan (A Fernandez 71'), Cavani

The host nation improved upon their opening match but still came up short against a Uruguayan team that has become the first to book it's place into the second round. South Africa started brightly with Pienaar getting on the end of a Teko Modise cross, heaidng it wide in the eighth minute. Uruguay were continually pushed onto the back foot through the first half-hour, but South Africa could not put in that final pass.

After a few stalled attacks of their own Uruguay opened the scoring through Edison Cavani who struck a fierce shot into the bottom corner. The buiild up deserved a goal after good strength was shown by Suarez to win the ball and Forlan to send in the killer pass. Two minutes later and the advantage was doubled when Cavani made an excellent pass of his own, sending Alvaro Pereira in on goal.

The South African heads dropped and it was all Uruguay through the second half but Luis Suarez was unable to convert either of his chances to really finish the game off. That may have proved costly if their opponents had scored earlier. As it was Siphiwe Tshabalala's goal came just three minutes from time, his shot cannoning in off the post after good play from substitute Surprise Moriri when he stole the ball from Cavani.

Uruguay will be relieved their complacency did not cost tham as both Jorge Fucile and Mauricio Victorino will miss the final group game after picking up a yellow card in each of the first two matches.

South Africa 1 - 2 Uruguay
Goalscorers:
URU Cavani 40'
URU A Pereira 42'
RSA Tshabalala 87'

Discipline:
URU Fucile 28' (sus)
URU Victorino 82' (sus)

Man of the Match:
URU Alvaro Pereira

GROUP A
Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
Uruguay	2	2	0	0	4	1	+3	6
Mexico	1	1	0	0	3	0	+3	3
France	1	0	0	1	0	2	-2	0
South Africa	2	0	0	2	1	5	-4	0

Final Score - WC2010 Group A, Uruguay vs France

Friday 11th June 2010 - Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town. Att: 64,100
Referee: Yuichi Nishimura (Japan)

LINEUPS
Uruguay (442): Muslera, M Pereira, Fucile, Lugano, Victorni, Arevalo, A Pereira, Perez, Saurez (Lodeiro 86'), Forlan (Fernandez 76'), Cavani (Abreu 59')
France (451):  Lloris, Sagna, Evra, Gallas (Planus 23'), Abidal, Toulalan (Cisse 80'), Diaby, Gourcuff, Anelka, Ribery, Govou (Henry 63')

The second game of Group A was a more even affair thanks in part to a rather dire first half. Both sides were content to sit back and pass the ball around for the first half hour, only an injury to William Gallas twenty-two minutes in somehow slowing the pace even more. But once Diego Forlan scored in the 28th minute - after an interception, surging run and pinpoint crossfield ball from Alvaro Pereira - the game opened up and France were able to get onto the front foot, generating good chances for Govou and Anelka to waste before half time.

The second half threatened to be a repeat of the first as both sides were again reluctant to commit bodies to the attack. It was France who ended up taking the initiative with probing moves but no real penetration, and the missing final ball was a costly omission when, 69 minutes gone, the other Periera, Maximilliano (no relation), tackled French sub Henry and his high ball was flicked through by Arevalo. The result was a mistimed header from Jorge Fucile that fooled everyone, including the goalkeeper for a 2-0 Uruguayan lead.

France tried to come back but continued to lack anemic in the final third of the pitch leaving Uruguay looking more likely to score as they continued to look attack-minded.

Uruguay 2 - 0 France
Goalscorers:
URU Forlan 28'
URU Fucile 69'

Discipline:
URU Fucile 35'
URU Forlan 52'
URU Victorino 89'

Man of the Match
URU Jorge Fucile

GROUP A
Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
Mexico	1	1	0	0	3	0	+3	3
Uruguay	1	1	0	0	2	0	+2	3
France	1	0	0	1	0	2	-2	0
South Africa	1	0	0	1	0	3	-3	0