KEY POINTS:
A Rosie White hat-trick paved the way for one of the great chapters in New Zealand soccer as the national under-17 side beat Colombia in terrible conditions in Wellington last night.
The World Cup win, the best by a national team at a Fifa tournament was, sadly, too little too late as they bowed out along with the South American champions who had to beat the Young Ferns to have any chance of progressing.
In the other group A game, Denmark and Canada played out a scoreless draw in Hamilton in winning through to the last eight.
But the night belonged to New Zealand who went a goal better than the New Zealand under-17 men who beat Poland in the 1999 World Cup to finish as top scoring team in their group.
Conditions could not have been worse at Westpac Stadium with the howling wind and driving rain making controlled football tough for both teams.
The Colombians seized every attacking opportunity in the first half but produced only one clear chance, in just the third minute, but Ingrid Vidal failed to even get a foot to the ball with the goal at her mercy.
Determinedly chasing everything, New Zealand too had their chances with Sarah McLaughlin firing the best of those straight at goalkeeper Stephany Castano.
With mercurial captain Yorely Rincon calling the shots, the visitors continued to attack but undid much of their good work by repeatedly being caught offside.
The Young Ferns defence battled resolutely with Bri Fisher and Bridgette Armstrong and fullbacks Rebecca Brown and Yumi Nguyen rarely exposed.
White opened the scoring a minute bedfore halftime when somehow she squeezed a shot between the post and goal keeper. New Zealand dominated the second half with White increasing their lead in the 82nd minute. Just 40s later the defence was caught square and Tatiana Ariza snatched one back for Colombia.
But the final say was with white who headed home a Hannah Wall cross to seal a great victory.
Group B leaders Germany dropped their first points in being held 1-1 by Korea DPR at Waikato Stadium but the European champions still comfortably qualified top and will play Canada in Saturday's second quarter-final at Westpac Stadium.
The point was enough for the North Koreans to progress to the last eight where they will meet Denmark.
Ghana, who needed to win and hope that the Koreans lost to stay alive, kept their part of that bargain beating pointless Costa Rica 1-0 in a one-sided game in Wellington.
The only goal came in the 20th minute.
