Soccer: Junior Football Ferns beaten by USA

New Zealand's under-20 women's football team have been beaten 5-0 by USA.

New Zealand's under-20 women's football team have been given a lofty World Cup benchmark by the USA, who beat the Junior Football Ferns 5-0 in Los Angeles this morning.

The USA showed why are among the favourites to win the under-20 Women's World Cup, to be held in Japan from August 19 to September 8, after they raced to a 2-0 lead inside the first 20 minutes and led 3-0 at halftime.

They were 4-0 ahead two minutes into the second spell but the Junior Football Ferns found their feet and belatedly matched the hosts until a breakaway fifth goal five minutes before full time.

New Zealand coach Aaron McFarland said his players responded well to the lesson they received.

"The players have quickly realised that's where they need to be at a minimum, in order to get out of the group stages in Japan and then look at going beyond the quarter-finals," McFarland said.

"The USA were a class act. They've been together for 14 or so internationals already, they were ruthless and they created all of those goals themselves, rather than feeding on any mistakes.

"We'll take some positives out of the game, namely our distribution form the keeper and the ability to recycle possession under pressure .We had the lion share of possession in the second half and that gives us options for being able to play different styles when we get to Japan.

"The biggest positive is the way the players are reacting to the defeat. There's a real hunger to work hard and close the gap."

The draw for the 16-nation Fifa women's World Cup will be held on June 4.

USA U-20 5 (14', 18', 34', 47', 85') New Zealand under-20 0, HT: 3-0