The Junior Football Ferns' Fifa Under-20 Women's World Cup campaign came to an end at the quarter-final stage yesterday as Nigeria claimed a 4-1 win in their last eight clash in Moncton, New Brunswick.
The pace and power of the Group C winners proved too much for the New Zealand side as the African nation made a lightning fast start, taking the lead inside the first 33 seconds as Asisat Oshoala headed home at the back post.
Nigeria were 2-0 up 12 minutes later when, with centre back Meikayla Moore off the field receiving treatment for an injury, Oshoala broke in behind the Junior Football Ferns back line to slip the ball home beyond goalkeeper Lily Alfeld.
From that point Nigeria effectively closed out the match, the speed and strength of the African side leaving the Junior Football Ferns little opportunity to establish a regular attacking threat despite an improved second-half performance.
On Thursday, the Junior Football Ferns became the first New Zealand women's side to reach the second phase of a Fifa World Cup event after their 3-0 win over Costa Rica.
