KEY POINTS:
New Zealand finished the Four Nations under-20 women's World Cup soccer warm-up tournament on a high with a 3-0 win over Mexico in Melipilla, Chile yesterday.
A goal from 15-year-old Rosie White two minutes before halftime set the Junior Football Ferns on their way, while Grace Vincent and captain-on-the-day Ria Percival netted in the 47th and 71st minutes as New Zealand recorded the biggest winning margin of the tournament to finish third.
Canada beat Chile 1-0 to finish on seven points and snatch the Four Nations title from the hosts by a point.
White - who scored in a 1-1 draw with Canada on Friday - finished as top scorer with two goals.
All four teams were preparing for November's Fifa under-20 women's World Cup, with New Zealand drawn to face hosts Chile, England, and Nigeria in group A.
While the win was the first for New Zealand in an under-20 women's international outside Oceania, coach John Herdman said he was delighted at his side's ability to come together quickly and earn two results against fellow World Cup finalists.
Herdman will name his final squad for the November 19-December 7 tournament in October, but the attention for many squad hopefuls now switches to the FIFA under-17 women's World Cup in New Zealand beginning on October 28. Nine of the 18-strong Junior Football Ferns squad for the Four Nations tournament are also eligible for the Young Football Ferns (under-17) squad.
- NZPA
