Against a strong Uruguay side that finished runners-up in the same tournament in 2011, Darren Bazeley’s Young All Whites were undone by a ruthless Uruguay team that will be one of the favourites to lift the trophy.

With rising star Franco Acosta spearheading the Uruguay attack their goalscoring strength was evident from as early as the third minute. A long throw fell to Kevin Mendez who volleyed the ball past Zac Speedy to open the scoring for Uruguay.

Speedy did well to keep Uruguay at bay with several outstanding saves, particularly from an lively Mendez, before Leandro Otormin doubled Uruguay’s lead on the 37th minute with a simple finish.

Chances were few for the Young All Whites with Holthusen carving out the best opportunities with a shot over the bar and troubling the Uruguay defence with some good work on the left that almost resulted in an own goal.

The second half began just as the first with Uruguay scoring an early goal through danger man Acosta. Speedy did well to save the initial shot from Mendez but the ball fell kindly to Acosta who headed the ball easily into an empty net.

Acosta grabbed his second of the game on 57 minutes after a lightening quick break and Otormin also grabbed his second just six minutes later to make it five for Uruguay.

Uruguay scored two further goals in the final fifteen minutes from Facundo Ospitaleche and Franco Pizzichillo to give Uruguay a flattering final scoreline and send them to the top of the group.

The Young All Whites will look to turn things round against a strong Italian side on 21 October at 5am (NZT) before they face Côte d’Ivoire in their final group game on 24 October at 2am (NZT).
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FIFA U-17 World Cup UAE 2013
New Zealand 0
Uruguay 7 (Kevin Mendez 3’, Leandro Otormin 37’ 63’, Franco Acosta 49’ 57’, Facundo Ospitaleche 75’, Franco Pizzichillo 89’)
HT 2-0
Ras Al-Khaimah, Emirates Stadium

New Zealand: 1 – Zac SPEEDY, 2 – Riley KELLIHER, 4 – Nick FORRESTER, 5 – Adam MITCHELL, 7 – Alex RUFER, 8 – Michael DEN HEIJER, 9 – Elijah NEBLETT (3 – Corey BROWN 62’), 10 – Matthew RIDENTON, 11 – Monty PATTERSON (19 – Judd BAKER 62’), 13 – Spiros AGATHOS, 14 – Stuart HOLTHUSEN (15 – Andre DE JONG 80’)
Subs not used: 6 – Alex PALZEVIC, 12 – Oliver SAIL, 16 – Tamupiwa DIMAIRO, 17 – Nick SUGDEN, 18 – Andrew BLAKE, 20 – Clayton LEWIS, 21 – Samuel COPP