RUSTENBURG, South Africa (AFP) (AFP) – 1603 GMT: Uruguayans are out in force on the streets of Montevideo as they celebrate their first ever victory over Mexico in an international tournament.
“It’s the first time in my life that I’ve seen Uruguay win without having to uses a calculator to see if they have qualified,” an office worker tells my colleague Ana Ines Cibils Macedo at the end of the match.
A few office workers throw ticker tape onto the streets below as youngsters celebrate the historic victory..
– 1555 GMT: The Mexico fans rejoice as the match has finished in Bloemfontein, with South Africa failing to score the necessary four goals against France.
90+3mins: FULL TIME! Mexico 0 Uruguay 1
90 mins: There will three minutes of added time.
89 mins: Uruguay look for a second as Forlan launches another counter-attack but the danger is cleared by Marquez
86 mins: Cavani twists clear of his marker but his long-range shot is safely gathered by the Mexico keeper. That was an unsuspecting bit of skill by Cavani.
– 84 mins: YELLOW CARD! Its turning into an unnecessarily aggressive match as Castro is booked for a two footed tackle on Cavani.
-82 mins: Uruguay replace the goal-scorer Suarez with Alvaro Fernandez.
-80 mins: Uruguay have switched to a sweeper system with five at the back as they look to shut the door on a Mexico comeback.
-77 mins: YELLOW CARD! Hernandez is booked after a penalty-box clash with Fucile after all the usual shenanigans that precede corners. Â –
-76mins: Uruguay are looking to batten down the hatches and replace Porto midfielder Pereira with defender Andres Scotti.
– 75 mins: Giovanni works an opening on the edge of the area but Hernandez cannot quite reach the cross and scuffs his shot wide!
-72 mins: SIghs of relief from the Mexico substitutes and coaching staff! They have really taken their foot off the gas in the last few minutes. Is it too late for the Bafana Bafana?
– 70 mins: The Mexican fans give their vuvuzelas an extra loud tonk on news that France have scored against South Africa, widening the gap in goal difference to three goals.
– 68 mins: YELLOW CARD! Fucile is the first name into the referee’s book for a rugby-tackle on the livewire Giovanni.
– 64 mins: You can clearly see why Manchester United have paid ten million dollars for Hernandez, as he has re-energised a tootless Mexico attack. The livewire striker links up with Giovanni who crosses for a galloping Rodriguez who is unmarked on the six-yard box…he must score…Oh dear, that might well be the miss of the tournament, as the defender heads it wide with the goal at his mercy!
-63 mins: Hernandez makes an immediate impact and nearly finds Giovanni with a cute through ball..only for Fucile to clear the danger with a desperate last -ditch tackle just as the Galatasaray forward was about to pull the trigger! Excellent defending.
– 61 mins: Mexico make their last substitution and replace Blanco with Javier Hernandez, the speedy striker who scored against France.
-59 mins: Los Tris are clearly rattled and are struggling to maintain possession. Uruguay are looking for a second goal, which would really set the cat amongst the pigeons as it would mean South Africa only need to score another goal.
– 57 mins: Mexico make their second change and Israel Castro comes on for Moreno.
– 54 mins: Excellent point-blank save by the Mexico keeper who dives low to his right to parry a forceful header by Lugano.
-52 mins: TV replays showed an excellent bit of skill from Franco who released Giovanni with a deft back-heel. Superb!
– 51 mins: Bright start to the half by Mexico as they hunt for an equaliser but Giovanni loses his footing as he tried to pass the ball to Blanco.
– 49 mins: Mexican fans are starting to look a bit restless as they know that one more goal for South Africa and one more for Uruguay and the hosts will leapfrog Los Tris on goal difference. Hands up if you thought South Africa would have reached the last 16!
– 46 mins: The second half gets under way with Mexico making one change with Pablo Barrera replacing Guardado.
– 1454 GMT: A booming shout of ‘GOAL!’ shakes an building in the centre of Montevideo, says my colleague Cibils Maceedo.
“The few buses on the main high street honk their horns in celebration of the goal,” she adds.
– 45+1mins: HALF-TIME! Mexico 0 Uruguay 1
45 mins: There will be a minute of added time.
43 mins: GOAL! Mexico 0 Uruguay 1
Suarez makes amends for his earlier miss and gives Uruguay a well deserved lead with a cool finish. Forlan finally escapes the attentions of Marquez and finds Suarez unmarked at the far post who nods it past the keeper.
-39 mins: The streets of Montevideo are deserted as everyone is watching the crunch tie.
“Schools and offices are empty as everyone is watching the match,” says my colleague Ana Ines Cibils Maceedo.
“In the bars, nervous Uruguayans wearing hats, scarves and blue shirts shout encouragement to their side and grimace whenever Mexico launch an attack,” she tells me.
-36 mins: The locals in the crowd are dancing in the aisles after hearing that the Bafana Bafana have scored a second against a demoralished French side.
-35 mins: Perez is allowed back onto the pitch wearing an over-sized blue bandage.
-32 mins: Perez has to go off the pitch as blood streams down his face following a nasty clash of heads.
-29 mins: “Tackles are flying in here,” says our man in Rustenburg. “It is definitely a real contest. Uruguay should be a couple of goals in front,” he adds.
-27 mins: A ripple of excitement from the Mexican contingent in the crowd on news that France are now playing with 10 men after the dismissal of Yoann  Gourcuff
– 22 mins: Pereiraa’s effort has stung Mexico and Guardado runs onto a loose ball and rattles the crossbar from 35 yards! The goalkeeper was beaten by that superb shot!
– 21 mins: Simple but brilliant football from Uruguay as Pereira runs onto a nicely weighted pass but blasts his shot into the side-netting. Forlan was urging the midfielder to pass the ball but the Benfica went for glory!
-18 mins: Mexico display their quick passing and earn a corner after some last ditch defending from Uruguay. Â Nice spell for Mexico.
-16 mins: Mexico’s Marquez is shadowing Forlan all over the pitch, and so far the Atletico Madrid forward has failed to have an impact on this match.
14 mins: Mexico craft two nice chances but Franco is in wayward form and fluffs his lines: his first shot was blocked and then he has an air shot whist chasing a through ball!
11 mins: The Mexico defence looks very flat-footed and unable to deal with diagonal balls but so far Uruguay have failed to capititalise on their chances.
9 mins: Uruguay’s Perez is lucky to escape a booking for a rash challenge on Franco.
6 mins: Terrible defending from the two Mexican centre-halfs who fail to deal with a speculative long-ball presenting Uruguay’s Suarez with the first real chance of the match, but the Ajax striker blasts his shot wide of the post. He really should have hit the target!
6 mins: “Both teams are starting at a quick tempo. No sign of settling for a draw yet. Will see how long it lasts,” says my colleague Angus MacKinnon
3 mins: Ole’s ring down from the large Mexican contingent in the stadium as Los Tris enjoy a nice period of possession.
1 min: Mexico’s Marquez has the first shot of the match but hammers his long-range effort well over the bar
1400 GMT: AND WE’RE OFF! The referee blows his whistle and Mexico get us under way
1358 GMT: The Mexican players — playing in their traditional green strip — belt out their national anthem, while the Uruguayans are more sombre, but maybe thats because it is  the world’s longest anthem with more than 100 bars of music!
1357 GMT: There is a loud roar from the fans as the teams come out onto the pitch. The vuvuzuelas have gone quiet, which can only mean one thing: its time for the national anthems!
1353 GMT: Javier Aguirre — who coached Mexico at the 2002 finals and was a member of the squad that reached the 1986 quarter-finals — gives the 37-year-old striker Cuauhtemoc Blanco his first start in this World Cup.
The evergreen striker replaces Arsenal’s Carlos Vela who has a hamstring injury while Deportivo La Coruna’s Andres Guardado comes in for the suspended Efrain Juarez.
1350 GMT: British bookmakers have set shorter odds on a draw than for any other match in this World Cup.
1348 GMT: The duel between Uruguay striker Diego Forlan and Mexico’s Rafael Marquez will go a long way towards determining the outcome of this match.
The Atletico Madrid striker is in excellent form for Uruguay and has scored three goals in their last two matches while the Barcelona defensive midfielder acts as a reliable shield in front of the Mexico defence.
1345 GMT: Oscar Tabarez — who has previously coached Boca Juniors and AC Milan — was in charge of Uruguay the last time they reached the last 16 at the World Cup in 1990, so the omens are looking good for Los Charruas.
1342 GMT: Mexico have reached the knockout stages at the past four World Cup finals while Uruguay will be counting on their legendary ‘garra charrua’ or Indian fighting spirit to ensure they reach the second round for the first time in twenty years.
1339 GMT: The starting line-up are in!
Mexico: Oscar Perez, Ricardo Osorio, Hector Moreno, Francisco Rodriguez, Carlos Salcido, Andres Guardado, Rafael Marquez, Gerardo Torrado, Giovani Dos Santos, Guillermo Franco, Cuauhtemoc Blanco.
Coach: Javier Aguirre
Uruguay: Fernando Muslera, Diego Lugano, Mauricio Victorino, Jorge Fucile, Maximiliano Pereira, Diego Perez, Egidio Arevalo, Edinson Cavani, Alvaro Pereira, Luis Suarez, Diego Forlan.
Coach: Oscar Tabarez
Referee: Viktor Kassai (Hungary)
WELCOME TO THE ROYAL BAFOKENG STADIUM in Rustenburg for our live World Cup text commentary of a crucial top-of-the-table Group A clash between Mexico and Uruguay.
The two sides have dismissed suggestions they might collude to produce a draw that would put them both into the knockout stages and dump France and hosts South Africa out of the tournament.
A draw would leave both sides on five points, with Uruguay top of the group on goal difference.
Mexico have never lost to Uruguay in a competitive match and are in buoyant mood after their convincing 2-0 victory over France.
Whoever finishes second in the group will likely face Argentina in the next round, so the outcome will largely depend on Mexico and Uruguay’s desire to avoid a likely encounter with Diego Maradona’s side in the last 16.
RUSTENBURG, South Africa (AFP) – 21 mins: Simple but brilliant football from Uruguay as Pereira runs onto a nicely weighted pass but blasts his shot into the side-netting. Forlan was urging the midfielder to pass the ball but the Benfica went for glory!
18 mins: Mexico display their quick passing and earn a corner after some last ditch defending from Uruguay. Â Nice spell for Mexico.
16 mins: Mexico’s Marquez is shadowing Forlan all over the pitch, and so far the Atletico Madrid forward has failed to have an impact on this match.
14 mins: Mexico craft two nice chances but Franco is in wayward form and fluffs his lines: his first shot was blocked and then he has an air shot whist chasing a through ball!
11 mins: The Mexico defence looks very flat-footed and unable to deal with diagonal balls but so far Uruguay have failed to capititalise on their chances.
9 mins: Uruguay’s Perez is lucky to escape a booking for a rash challenge on Franco.
6 mins: Terrible defending from the two Mexican centre-halfs who fail to deal with a speculative long-ball presenting Uruguay’s Suarez with the first real chance of the match, but the Ajax striker blasts his shot wide of the post. He really should have hit the target!
6 mins: “Both teams are starting at a quick tempo. No sign of settling for a draw yet. Will see how long it lasts,” says my colleague Angus MacKinnon
3 mins: Ole’s ring down from the large Mexican contingent in the stadium as Los Tris enjoy a nice period of possession.
1 min: Mexico’s Marquez has the first shot of the match but hammers his long-range effort well over the bar
1400 GMT: AND WE’RE OFF! The referee blows his whistle and Mexico get us under way
1358 GMT: The Mexican players — playing in their traditional green strip — belt out their national anthem, while the Uruguayans are more sombre, but maybe thats because it is  the world’s longest anthem with more than 100 bars of music!
1357 GMT: There is a loud roar from the fans as the teams come out onto the pitch. The vuvuzuelas have gone quiet, which can only mean one thing: its time for the national anthems!
1353 GMT: Javier Aguirre — who coached Mexico at the 2002 finals and was a member of the squad that reached the 1986 quarter-finals — gives the 37-year-old striker Cuauhtemoc Blanco his first start in this World Cup.
The evergreen striker replaces Arsenal’s Carlos Vela who has a hamstring injury while Deportivo La Coruna’s Andres Guardado comes in for the suspended Efrain Juarez.
1350 GMT: British bookmakers have set shorter odds on a draw than for any other match in this World Cup.
1348 GMT: The duel between Uruguay striker Diego Forlan and Mexico’s Rafael Marquez will go a long way towards determining the outcome of this match.
The Atletico Madrid striker is in excellent form for Uruguay and has scored three goals in their last two matches while the Barcelona defensive midfielder acts as a reliable shield in front of the Mexico defence.
1345 GMT: Oscar Tabarez — who has previously coached Boca Juniors and AC Milan — was in charge of Uruguay the last time they reached the last 16 at the World Cup in 1990, so the omens are looking good for Los Charruas.
1342 GMT: Mexico have reached the knockout stages at the past four World Cup finals while Uruguay will be counting on their legendary ‘garra charrua’ or Indian fighting spirit to ensure they reach the second round for the first time in twenty years.
1339 GMT: The starting line-up are in!
Mexico: Oscar Perez, Ricardo Osorio, Hector Moreno, Francisco Rodriguez, Carlos Salcido, Andres Guardado, Rafael Marquez, Gerardo Torrado, Giovani Dos Santos, Guillermo Franco, Cuauhtemoc Blanco.
Coach: Javier Aguirre
Uruguay: Fernando Muslera, Diego Lugano, Mauricio Victorino, Jorge Fucile, Maximiliano Pereira, Diego Perez, Egidio Arevalo, Edinson Cavani, Alvaro Pereira, Luis Suarez, Diego Forlan.
Coach: Oscar Tabarez
Referee: Viktor Kassai (Hungary)
WELCOME TO THE ROYAL BAFOKENG STADIUM in Rustenburg for our live World Cup text commentary of a crucial top-of-the-table Group A clash between Mexico and Uruguay.
The two sides have dismissed suggestions they might collude to produce a draw that would put them both into the knockout stages and dump France and hosts South Africa out of the tournament.
A draw would leave both sides on five points, with Uruguay top of the group on goal difference. Mexico have never lost to Uruguay in a competitive match and are in buoyant mood after their convincing 2-0 victory over France.
Whoever finishes second in the group will likely face Argentina in the next round, so the outcome will largely depend on Mexico and Uruguay’s desire to avoid a likely encounter with Diego Maradona’s side in the last 16.
