The Junior Football Ferns have been knocked out of the Fifa under-20 women's World Cup in Japan in disappointing fashion after losing 4-0 to Mexico overnight in a game that could have seen them go through to the quarter-finals.
After a 2-1 win over Switzerland and a 2-2 draw against eventual group-winners Japan, New Zealand just needed to avoid defeat to progress to the quarter-finals for the first time at an age group Fifa women's tournament, and looked relatively comfortable at halftime with close to 70 per cent of possession and the match scoreless.
Once Sofia Huerta stole in between Kiwi goalkeeper Erin Naylor and Rebecca Burrows and edged Mexico ahead two minutes into the second half however, the Junior Football Ferns were chasing the game.
Coach Aaron McFarland was forced to roll the dice with substitutions but Mexico ensured the gamble didn't pay off, striking three times in the final 16 minutes as the game became increasingly stretched.
A deep cross was met at the back post by Natalia Gomez Junco for Mexico's second in the 74th minute, substitute Yamile Franco headed in from an 85th minute corner and Olivia Jimenez padded the score line with a well taken fourth goal three minutes from fulltime.