Soccer: Junior All Whites' run ends with rout

The Junior All Whites were eliminated from the under-17 World Cup by Japan. Photo / Getty Images

The Junior All Whites' brave run in the world under-17 soccer championship was brutally ended with a 6-0 defeat to Japan in a round of 16 match at Monterrey, Mexico today.

New Zealand had conceded just two goals in three group matches but a defence that had stymied Uzbekistan, United States and the Czech Republic was dismantled with ease by Group B winners Japan.

Japan, ranked fourth in the world at this level, were technically superior in every department and tore open yawning gaps in the New Zealand defence with their pin point passing.

The battling Junior All Whites had their share of possession but looked short of ideas as they struggled to move the ball upfield.

Having opened their campaign with a 4-1 win over Uzbekistan, this was the third consecutive game in the championship that they were unable to score a goal.

Japan's opening goal came with a touch of brilliance from striker Hideki Ishige who rounded defender Kip Colvey on the right and then lobbed the ball over goalkeeper Scott Basalaj to find the net at the far post from an acute angle in the 20th minute.

Ishege struck again when he tapped home a low cross from the right two minutes later.

Fumiya Hayakawa got the third goal for Japan in the 32nd minute before Colvey turned the ball into his own goal after Basalaj had semi-blocked a cross.

Takumi Minamino and Hayakawa got Japan's other goals in a second half which saw New Zealand again fail to trouble the Japanese goal.

Japan's opponents in the quarterfinals will be Brazil who beat Ecuador 2-0 today.

- NZPA