South Africa leads 10-man France 2-0 at hafltime in World Cup as Gourcuff is sent off

South Africa leads 10-man France 2-0 at halftime

BLOEMFONTEIN, South Africa — Bongani Khumalo and Katlego Mphela scored a goal each as South Africa led 2-0 at halftime against France, which was reduced to 10 men in the teams’ must-win World Cup match by a red card to Yoann Gourcuff.

South Africa midfielder Steven Pienaar forced a 20th-minute corner and Siphiwe Tshabalala lofted the ball over goalkeeper Hugo Lloris for Khumalo to head home.

Awful marking by France’s defense allowed Mphela to scramble the ball home in the 37th.

Gourcuff was ejected in the 25th for elbowing Macbeth Sibaya, and Lloris kept out Mphela’s low drive in the 43rd.

Both teams started the day with just one point.

Uruguay led Mexico 1-0 in the other Group A game. Both France and South Africa would be knocked out if the scores in both games held up in the second half.