Despite taking a first half lead through striker Amber Hearn, the Football Ferns fell to their third straight one-goal defeat, losing 2-1 by Mexico in the final match of the four-team Women's Invitational Tournament in China.
After consecutive 1-0 losses to China and Korea DPR, the New Zealand side looked on course for their first win of 2014 when Amber Hearn struck eight minutes before half time only for the Mexicans to fight back through goals to Renae Cuellar and Teresa Noyola.
Cuellar levelled the score at 1-1 just two minutes before the halftime break before Noyola's 73rd minute strike secured the result for the 25th ranked Mexican side over the 16th ranked Football Ferns.
A disappointed New Zealand coach Tony Readings says his team let their lower-ranked opponents off the hook.
The Football Ferns now move on to the Cyprus Cup with the first match of that event coming on March the 5th against Ireland.
