South Africa beat hapless France 2-1

South Africa beat a hapless French team,down to 10 men in the first half,2-1 on Tuesday but the last-ditch victory was not enough for the hosts to reach the last 16 of the World Cup.

South Africa took the lead when Bongani Khumalo headed home a corner in the 20th minute and things got worse for the French when their playmaker Yoann Gourcuff was sent off for elbowing MacBeth Sibaya in the face five minutes later.

Some sloppy French defending let Katlego Mphela in for South Africa’s second in the 37th minute. French substitute Florent Malouda scored France’s only goal of the tournament in the 70th.

South Africa finished third in Group A with four points behind qualifiers Uruguay and Mexico with France last on one.