The result at Dwight Yorke Stadium means the Kiwis head home with no points from their three matches while the Japanese go through to the quarter-finals after registering their second big win in a row.
Despite losing 2-1 to Venezuela and 3-1 against European champions Spain in their previous outings, New Zealand still had a slim chance of going through but needed to put in an inspired performance and beat Japan by four goals.
That was always going to be a tough ask against the skilful and athletic Japanese but New Zealand began the match as if they believed they could pull of such an unlikely result.
Coach Dave Edmondson made three changes to the starting line-up, bringing in Hannah Wong up front and handing midfielder Hannah Carlsen and goalkeeper Jess Reddaway their first action of the tournament.
The changes seemed to have the desired effect as New Zealand put the Asians under heavy pressure from the opening whistle, Olivia Chance again catching the eye with her confident running and willingness to take on defenders.
But Japan slowly began to find their feet in the scorching heat and playmaker Kumi Yokoyama, who was at the heart of most of her side’s most flowing moves, put them ahead in the 24th minute.
Young Football Ferns captain Katie Bowen missed a simple clearance and Yokoyama took full advantage of her slip-up to hammer a shot into the top corner.
Yokoyama was on target again in the 58th minute and Yoko Tanaka made it 3-0 with a sweet strike from 25 yards just seconds later to put the result beyond doubt and end New Zealand’s World Cup campaign.
Mina Tanaka grabbed Japan’s fourth in the 74th minute before Tanaka notched her second and Yuka Honda wrapped up the scoring in stoppage time.
“It was always going to be a tough game,” Edmondson says.
“But we knew if we could grab the first goal we could get under their skin and they might deflate a bit like they did against Spain.
“We were well in the game and not really allowing them to play. To concede the way we did, failing to deal with a pretty harmless ball, was a killer. Even so, we did well to stay in the game but the second goal took the wind out of our sails. As we tired the technical levels suffered as well.”
Edmondson says the tournament has been a real eye-opener for his side.
“They are a pretty tough bunch and very determined. They came here today looking for a 4-0 win to get them through.
“But it’s a steep learning curve and we’ve found out where we are currently. I’m sure these players are the type that will remember how good Spain were, how good Japan were and strive to go from being the best in the country to being as good as those teams.”
FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup – Group C
Scarbrough, Tobago
New Zealand 0 Japan 6 (Kumi YOKOYAMA 24, 58; Yoko TANAKA 59, 90; Mina TANAKA 74, Yuka HONDA 90+1)
Halftime: 0-1
New Zealand: 20-Jess REDDAWAY (GK), 2-Rachel HEAD, 3-Tessa MCPHERSON, 4-Olivia CHANCE (13-Megan LEE 76), 7-Holly PATTERSON, 8-Kate LOYE, 9-Hannah CARLSEN (16-Jessie MATHEWS 63), 10-Hannah WONG (15-Kate CARLTON 50), 14-Katie BOWEN (Captain), 17-Sivitha BOYCE, 18-Rebecca BURROWS.
Substitutes not used: 1-Chloe-May GEURTS (RGK), 5-Brittany DUDLEY-SMITH, 6-Evie MILLYNN, 11-Grace PARKINSON, 12-Stephanie SKILTON, 19-Michelle WINDSOR, 21-Lily ALFELD (RGK).
Coach: Dave EDMONDSON.
Japan: 1-Eri HIRAO (GK /Captain), 3-Mami KANAZAWA, 4-Yume NAGASAWA, 7-Hikaru NAOMOTO (5-Naoko WADA 63), 8-Yoko TANAKA, 9-Haruna KAWASHIMA, 10-Mai KYOKAWA (16-Chika KATO 63), 11-Mina TANAKA, 13-Tomoko MURAMATSU, 14-Haruka HAMADA, 17-Kumi YOKOYAMA (18-Yuka HONDA 78).
Substitutes not used: 2-Serina KASHIMOTO, 6-Ayu NAKADA, 12-Arisa MOCHIZUKI (RGK), 15-Hikari TAKAGI, 19-Ami GOTO, 20-Hikari NAGASHIMA, 21-Isayo MITA (RGK).
Coach: Hiroshi YOSHIDA.