Last-gasp goals from Hannah Wilkinson and captain Rebecca Smith earned New Zealand a 2-2 draw with Mexico at the Women's World Cup on Tuesday.
Wilkinson scored in the fourth minute of injury time, after Smith pulled one back in the 90th, to deny Mexico its first ever win at the World Cup.
Stephany Mayor gave Mexico the perfect start when she scored in the second minute, and Maribel Dominguez made it 2-0 in the 29th.
Mexico needed a high-scoring win and a favor from Japan to make the last eight, but England's 2-0 win in the other Group B game eliminated Mexico.
New Zealand - already out of contention - made a sloppy start at Rhein-Neckar-Arena, losing the ball in midfield, and Dominguez needed no further invitation to slip a perfect pass for Mayor to give Mexico the perfect start.
Dominguez, the Mexico captain, ran on to a pass from Veronica Perez before curling a wonderful strike past the helpless Jenny Bindon in goal for Mexico's second.
New Zealand looked short of ideas going forward and rarely troubled the Mexican defense.
New Zealand's Ali Riley earned a corner with a long-range effort in the 41st, before Anna Green's 30-meter (yard) free kick was easily stopped by goalkeeper Cecilia Santiago.
Spurred by pride, New Zealand improved in the second half and deservedly pulled one back when Smith scored from a corner. It looked like being no more than a late consolation until Riley crossed for Wilkinson's dramatic equalizer.
---
Lineups:
New Zealand: Jenny Bindon, Anna Green, Abby Erceg, Rebecca Smith, Ali Riley, Betsy Hassett (Ria Percival, 79), Katie Hoyle, Hayley Moorwood (Kirsty Yallop, 60), Amber Hearn, Rosie White (Hannah Wilkinson, 55), Sarah Gregorius.
Mexico: Cecilia Santiago, Natalie Vinti, Alina Garciamendez, Natalie Garcia, Kenti Robles (Luz Del Rosario Saucedo, 81), Nayeli Rangel (Dinora Garza, 46), Guadalupe Worbis, Monica Ocampo, Veronica Perez, Stephany Mayor (Charlyn Corral, 70), Maribel Dominguez.
Referee: Jenny Palmqvist, Sweden.
