World Cup 2010, South Africa Vs. France: Bafana Bafana Halfway To Making Up Gap On Mexico

South Africa has made up more than half of their goal difference disadvantage on Mexico, and with El Tri trailing Uruguay 1-0 at halftime of the other Group A match, Bafana Bafana has one half to extend their 2-0 lead over 10-man France and try to pull-off a miraculous qualification for the World Cup’s knockout stage.

The hosts came into today’s match on one point, needing a win, Mexico or Uruguay to lose, and a drastic turnaround in goal difference to advance to the next stage of the competition. Mexico came into the day with a five goal advantage over South Africa; Uruguay, six.

Goals from Bongani Khumalo and Katlego Mphela have pulled back two goals against Mexico, while a red card to Yoann Gourcuff has set the stage for more scoring.

Khumalo’s goal came early in the half off a Steven Pienaar corner kick, the central defender heading home at the far post to give South Africa a 1-0 lead.

Soon after Gourcuff’s dismissal, Siphiwe Tshabalala set-up Mphela for an easy finish into an open goal, goalkeeper Hugo Lloris frozen at the near post before the winger’s cross through the six.

South Africa needs to make up two more goals on Mexico to have a chance to advance, provided they finish with more goals scored than Mexico. If they finish with fewer goal (but the same goal difference), Mexico would go through, while the same number of goals would force the teams to draw lots.