Diego Forlan put in a stirling performance as Uruguay all but secured their place in the last 16 with an impressive 3-0 win over South Africa.

The gulf in class was easy to see and it only widened when the Atletico Madrid star rifled in the opener from distance.

Forlan later netted penalty after South Africa goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune saw red for a trip on Luis Suarez, and he also played a part in the third goal scored by Alvaro Pereira.

Both sides were positive in the early stages but neither could test the goalkeepers.

Siphiwe Tshabalala, who netted the first goal of the tournament, opted to play in Steven Pienaar and curled an effort over the crossbar.

Uruguay were enjoying a good amount of possession and Suarez nutmegged Bongani Khumalo and rifled a shot straight at the goalkeeper.

And it was during this spell that a moment of magic from Forlan stunned the home crowd.

The Uruguay frontman picked up possession 30 yards out and, under no pressure from any South African player, unleashed a 25-year strike that clipped Aaron Mokoena and looped past a helpless Khune.

Suarez continued to be a danger to Bafana Bafana and beat Khumalo once again, only to hit the side-netting with his shot from a tight angle.

At the other end Teko Modise swung in a cross but Katlego Mphela could not direct his header on target.

South Africa’s bid to reach the last 16 then suffered a further setback two minutes before the break.

A rash challenge from Kagisho Dikgacoi resulted in the South African midfielder being booked, ruling him out of the final group game against France.

A mistake by Mokoena gave Uruguay the opportunity to double their lead, but Tsepo Masilela rescued his captain with a last ditch tackle to deny Edinson Cavani a goalscoring chance.

Forlan’s set-pieces were tormenting the South Africans and unmarked Diego Lugano should have headed one home, but he stooped too low and the ball cannoned off the back of his neck.

Siboniso Gaxa headed another Forlan free-kick over his own bar and Maximiliano Pareira beat two men but blazed over as the South African’s hung on.

And Bafana Bafana could have levelled in a rare attack when Mphela beat Fernando Muslera to the ball but his header struck the Uruguay goalkeeper’s hand and went wide.

South Africa were enjoying their best spell of the second half and Modise fired straight at the goalkeeper.

Moments later, the game was over.

A shot from the edge of the box by Forlan was deflected into the path of Suarez and he was tripped by Khune, leaving the referee no choice but to send the South Africa goalkeeper off.

And Forlan kept his nerve after a near five-minute wait to rifle the penalty into the roof of the net with 10 minutes remaining.

Khumalo's fine tackle prevented Forlan completing his hat-trick, but a third goal did come five minutes into added time when his superb angled pass found Suarez, and he crossed for Alvaro Pereira to bundle in.

South Africa know they must now beat France in their final group game to have any hope of reaching the knockout stage of their own tournament.

South Africa: Khune, Gaxa, Masilela, Mokoena. Tshabalala, Mphela, Pienaar (Josephs 79), Modise, Letsholonyane (Moriri 57), Dikgacoi, Khumalo.

Uruguay: Muslera, Lugano, Godin, Fucile (A Fernandez 71), Cavani (S Fernandez 89), Suarez, Forlan, A Pereira, Perez (Gargano 90), M Pereira, Arevalo Rios.

Goal: Forlan 24, 80 pen, A Pereira 90

Red Card: Khune (South Africa)

Booking: Pienaar, Dikgacoi (South Africa)