Soccer: NZers bow out after big loss

New Zealand lost all three games at the women's under-17 soccer World Cup. Photo / Getty Images

New Zealand bowed out of the women's under-17 soccer World Cup in Trinidad and Tobago today on the back of a 0-6 loss to Japan.

Leading 1-0 at the break, Japan produced a masterclass in finishing to net another five goals and ease into the quarterfinals along with Spain, who topped group C with a 2-1 win over Venezuela.

Needing an unlikely four-goal victory to have any chance of qualifying for the second round, New Zealand started brightly but struggled after the break as the Japanese took control.

It was New Zealand's third loss after they went down 1-2 to Venezuela and 1-3 to Spain.

Japan 6 (Kumi Yokoyama 2, Yoko Tanaka 2, Mina Tanaka, Yuka Honda) New Zealand 0. Halftime: 1-0.

- NZPA