Soccer: Jnr All Whites go down again

New Zealand finish the quadrangular on Tuesday against African U-20 champions Nigeria. Photo / Getty Images

The Junior All Whites lost 0-1 to the hosts at soccer's Suwon U-20 Cup in South Korea on Sunday night.

It was the second narrow loss to a fellow FIFA U-20 World Cup finalist at the four-nation warm up tournament after losing 0-1 to Uruguay on Thursday.

The Koreans opened the match at a frenetic pace, scoring after just five minutes and the New Zealanders could not equalise.

New Zealand coach Chris Milicich was disappointed with a second straight loss but thought the experience would serve his team well come the FIFA U-20 World Cup finals in Colombia in July.

"We are learning some lessons about what we need to do to step up to this level and that is what this tournament is about for us.

"Korea were quick, strong and skilful with great movement and also a gamesmanship that perhaps our players weren't expecting from such a good side."

New Zealand finish the quadrangular on Tuesday against African U-20 champions Nigeria, who drew 2-2 with Uruguay in the day's early match to share the group lead.

- NZPA