World Cup 2010, South Africa Vs. France: Bafana Bafana 2-1 Win Not Enough To Advance

South Africa’s 2-1 win Tuesday over France was not enough to see them into the tournament’s knockout stage, with both Bafana Bafana and Les Bleus being eliminated from the 2010 World Cup.

The result marks the first time the host nation has failed to make it out of group stage, with South Africa finishing in third place in Group A. Mexico, who finished even with South Africa on three points, advance with a better goal difference, finishing with a +1 after today’s 1-0 loss to Uruguay. South Africa finished with a -2.

Things looks more promising for South Africa early in the match, where the hosts went up a man shortly after Bongani Khumalo gave them an early lead.

Khumalo converted a Steven Pienaar corner after climbing up his man at the far post, heading the opening goal past Hugo Lloris in the 20th minute.

Five minutes later, France lost a man when Yoann Gourcuff saw straight rest. Rising for an aerial challenge inside the South Africa area, Gourcuff led with his left elbow, catching midfielder MacBeth Sibaya in the jaw, earning his dismissal.

Shortly afterward, Katlego Mphela put South Africa up 2-0 when he redirected a Siphiwe Tshabalala ball into an open goal, cleaning-up a cross that had deflected off left back Gael Clichy.

South Africa took that lead into halftime knowing they still needed to make up two goals on Mexico, who was 1-0 at halftime against Uruguay. Although Bafana Bafana tested Lloris a number of times in the second, it was France that would be the next to score, dampening the hosts’ chances for a remarkable knockout stage qualification.

In the 70th minute, Franck Ribery was fed through the channel between left back and center half, allowing the attacker to set-up Florent Malouda for an uncontested goal when goalkeeper Moneeb Joseph unsuccessfully came for the ball. The goal moved France within one and briefly have Les Bleus faint hope of something miraculous.

But the match would end 2-1, eliminating both France and South Africa when the Uruguay-Mexico match ended 1-0. South Africa finished third in Group A with four points while France crashes out of their tumultuous World Cup with only one point.