A stirring second half performance had seen the New Zealand side equalise at 1-1 through substitute Stuart Holthusen before Gelson Martins won it in the dying stages with a curling effort from just outside the box.
Earlier, Raphael Guzzo had given the Portugese side a 24th minute lead, placing his effort out of the reach of the excellent New Zealand goalkeeper Nik Tzanev.
The disappointment on New Zealand coach Darren Bazeley’s face said it all at the final whistle.
“I’m very proud of the boys, they worked very hard to get to this stage,” he said.
“We wanted more. Obviously we knew we were underdogs but really believed internally that we could win this game.”
Bazeley said the way the New Zealand public got behind the team throughout its historic run to the Round of 16 was certainly a boost to the side.
“The crowds really got behind us. The lads will remember this for a long time.”
The New Zealand side made a bright start, earning a first minute free kick which saw Monty Patterson’s delivery headed behind for a goalkick.
Noah Billingsley followed that up soon after with an attempted flicked header from Alex Rufer’s clipped ball into the area but the Portugal side then started to get to grips with the game, threatening on several occasions but some good defending and several telling interventions from captain Bill Tuiloma kept the New Zealanders on level terms.
The Group C winners did take the lead in the 24th minute, Guzzo receiving the ball inside the area and shaking free from a slipping Kiwi defender, the slip gave the Portugese midfielder time and space to pick his spot low across Tzanev into the far corner.
But the home side responded after going behind, enjoying their most confident spell of possession which produced two shooting opportunities for Billingsley – the second saw him slip at the vital moment as he lined up a volley – and Patterson who fired a 25 yard drive over the Portugese crossbar.
The 1-0 deficit remained until the break but the split didn’t harm New Zealand’s growing momentum as the home side continued to carry a threat and Holthusen’s prod home of a loose ball in the area just two minutes after entering the game, was reward for a performance which grew in confidence as the half wore on.
But just as extra time loomed the Portugese produced an excellent winner, Martins ghosting inside, beating several New Zealand defenders before curling beyond Tzanev into the far corner to break New Zealand hearts.
FIFA U-20 World Cup – Round of 16
Thursday 11 June, 2015
New Zealand 1-2 Portugal (half: 0-1)
NZL: Stuart Holthusen 64’
POR: Raphael Guzzo 24’, Gelson Martins 87’
New Zealand: 12. Nik Tzanev (GK), 3. Deklan Wynne, 4. Sam Brotherton, 6. Bill Tuiloma (capt – 18. Andre de Jong 90’), 8. Moses Dyer, 9. Alex Rufer (19. Stuart Holthusen 62’), 14. Cory Brown, 15. Monty Patterson, 16. Te Atawhai Hudson-Wihongi, 17. Andrew Blake, 20. Noah Billingsley (7. Joel Stevens 76’)
Substitutes not used: 1. Oliver Sail (GK), 2. Jesse Edge, 5. Adam Mitchell, 11. Matthew Ridenton, 13. Brock Messenger, 18. Andre de Jong, 21. Damian Hirst (GK)
Coach: Darren Bazeley
For more on the FIFA U-20 World Cup visit FIFA.com

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