The New Zealand women's football team bowed out of their Olympic campaign overnight, thoroughly beaten by the USA 4-0 in Shenyang.
The Americans were too strong in all areas of the game and toppled the Football Ferns, who had already lost to Norway and drew with Japan.
The win puts the US team through to the quarter finals.
The next-top team in the pool, Norway, also goes through, despite its upset 5 - 1 loss to Japan overnight.
New Zealand finish 10th overall on their Olympic debut after starting with competitive performances against top 10 sides Japan and Norway.
Coach John Herdman says the early exit is disappointing but he's pleased with the positive signs from a side with an average age of just 22.
He says there's no substitute in the short-term for experience with the USA fielding nine players with twice the number of caps of the Ferns' most experienced player.
