KEY POINTS:
A classy but inaccurate Mexico predictably ended New Zealand's under-20 soccer World Cup campaign today with a 2-1 victory at the Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton, Canada.
The unbeaten group C winners, boasting multiple changes from the side that beat Portugal 2-1 in the last round, were clearly a
cut above, though they made hard work of subduing the junior All Whites who at least had the final say when captain Jack Pelter whipped home a deflected free kick with two minutes remaining.
It was New Zealand's only goal of a campaign that saw them finish at the bottom of the group after losses to Portugal (0-2) and Gambia 0-1.
New Zealand needed to upset the overwhelming favourites and then rely on Portugal beating Gambia to qualify for the second round, but neither scenario unfolded.
Gambia stunned Portugal 2-1 to progress automatically while the second string Mexicans practically toyed with New Zealand, although the underdogs regrouped to construct some threatening attacks in the second period.
Indeed New Zealand could have ended the first half with an unjustified 1-1 scoreline had Michael Boxall not volleyed a close range shot over the bar.
The defender chested Greg Draper's nodded down ball at the far post from a corner but Boxall connected slightly too high and the ball flew over the bar.
The near miss concluded a rare attacking foray from the New Zealanders who were fortunate not to be facing a four or five goal deficit at the interval.
Goalkeeper Jacob Spoonley regularly came to the rescue to sabotage some flowing Mexican moves while Carlos Vela and Javier Hernandez were both guilty of some wayward finishing.
Midfielder Vela had three opportunities within the first 15 minutes as New Zealand were on the defensive from the opening whistle.
The pressure finally told in the 24th minute when Christian Bermudez tapped in a Hernandez strike that Spoonley parried into the midfielder's path.
Hernandez was again culpable four minutes later when he blasted a perfect Vela cross over the bar before crashing into an empty net to keep the outgunned New Zealanders in the game.
Mexico's dominance was eroded in the second half as Greg Draper twice spurred goalkeeper Rodolfo Cota into action but any prospect of New Zealand mounting an unlikely comeback was thwarted when Jose Guerra held off Kieran Purcell before his cross deflected past the helpless Spoonley for Oscar Mares to complete a simple tap-in in the 78th minute.
Result
Mexico 2 (Christian Bermudez 24, Oscar Mares 78)
New Zealand 1 (Jack Pelter 88)
Halftime 1-0
- NZPA