Soccer: Last-minute agony for under-20s

A late goal from Russian substitute Svetlana Akimova condemned New Zealand to an early exit from the under-20 women's World Cup.

New Zealand, punching well above their weight, came within 30 seconds of what would have been just the country's second World Cup result at any level after fighting back from a two-goal deficit.

But Akimova's sweetly stuck 93rd-minute volley left goalkeeper Aroon Clansey with no chance and many of her gutted New Zealand teammates in tears after the 3-2 loss in Russia yesterday.

Coupled with a 3-0 opening-day loss to Australia, yesterday's result means New Zealand will be playing for pride when they move to Moscow to face Brazil in their final group A fixture on Thursday.

Russia looked like they might run away with the match when Anna Kozhnikova and Elena Terekhova scored fifth and 14th-minute goals, the first a header from a free kick and the second a brilliant individual effort when Terekhova juggled the ball over Petria Rennie before placing it in the top right-hand corner.

But New Zealand regrouped quickly and were rewarded in the 18th minute when defender Abby Erceg volleyed home from the 6m box after captain Kirsty Yallop's header was cleared off the line.

A fine save from Clansey to deny Russia's Elena Danilova a goal in the 29th minute helped shift the momentum further.

Substitutes Hannah Bromley and Annalie Longo, 15, added steel to New Zealand's play while Ali Riley produced another fine performance to be named player of the match.

The California-based winger set up Emma Humphries' 56th-minute equaliser, using her pace to slip between two Russian defenders before cutting the ball across the goal to leave Humphries with a simple tap-in.

But Akimova struck just when John Herdman's side looked like scoring New Zealand's first World Cup point since the 1999 men's under-17 tournament when hosts New Zealand upset Poland 2-1.

Danilova rode through the tackles of Katie Hoyle and Hannah Rishworth and before unleashing the cross that Akimova expertly volleyed home.

"At least we're going out of the World Cup with some pride," New Zealand coach Herdman said.

"It's pretty hard to take with 30 seconds left. The girls are just shattered and the really sad thing is a draw isn't the result we were looking for. There was a genuine belief they could have won it."

Russia coach Valentin Grishin praised their performance.

- NZPA