New Zealand have been eliminated from the under-20 soccer World Cup in Colombia, results on the final day of pool play confirming their exit.
Sitting on two points, New Zealand needed results in one of the final two groups to go their way today to join the last 16 as one of the four best third place teams.
But while Spain helped New Zealand's cause with a 5-1 thrashing of Australia, a 3-0 win for Ecuador over Costa Rica saw the South Americans climb to second in Group C with Costa Rica's three points also good enough to progress in third place.
That left the Junior All Whites hopes hanging on the Group D encounter between Croatia and Honduras finishing in a draw.
A stalemate - and a place in the knockout stages for New Zealand - appeared on the cards until midfielder Marvin Ceballos netted an 81st minute winner that sent Guatemala through to the second round and left the New Zealanders packing their bags.
