South Africa hope to keep momentum against Uruguay

South African dreams of a shock run into the second round of the World Cup face a moment of truth tonight in a critical match against Uruguay.

Unfancied South Africa, trying to avoid becoming the first host nation to fail to advance from the group stage, opened with a 1-1 draw against Mexico while Uruguay and France played out a nervy 0-0 draw, leaving Group A up for grabs.

"Uruguay will be in trouble if we carry on where we left off against the Mexicans," said South African midfielder Siphiwe Tshabalala, whose opening strike of the tournament was the first World Cup finals goal on African soil.

Diego Forlan leads an Uruguay attack that figures to be a formidable challenge for the defence of "Bafana Bafana" (The Boys).

"It is going to be a tough game for us and we have to take maximum points," said South Africa's Steven Pienaar, whose performances from midfield for Everton have made him his country's best-known player.

"Uruguay are a really physical team who are well organised in defence with three centre-backs and also boast several good attacking players apart from Forlan," Pienaar added.

Thousands of vuvuzela-tooting supporters will be on hand at Loftus Versfeld, the same pitch where Ghana beat Serbia 1-0 on Sunday, making a little piece of history as the first African side to win a World Cup finals match in Africa.

South African captain Aaron Mokoena called vuvuzelas "our 12th man that we need. It's our weapon."

Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez knows his side, which has beaten South Africa 4-3 and drawn 0-0 in prior meetings, will need every point it can get to avoid being left out of the last 16.

"All the teams are on the same footing now," Tabarez said.

"The group is now evenly balanced and the next games will be crucial."

Key to match

Diego Forlan vs Bongani Khumalo

How well Khumalo, a standout for South African champions Supersport United, and Bafana Bafana's defence can contain Forlan will go a long way to deciding the outcome.

The X-factor will be the emotional lift of South Africa's historic host role and the ardent and loud support from the stands.