The All Whites have been eliminated from the FIFA World Cup at the group stage following a 5-1 defeat to Belgium in Vancouver on 27 June.
New Zealand needed a victory to progress to the knockout rounds, but the world number 10 side proved too strong in what became New Zealand's second defeat of the tournament. Belgium advanced to the round of 32 with the win.
Belgium break through
Tyler Bindon, making his first World Cup start, kept Belgium out with goal-line defensive work in the first half before Leandro Trossard opened the scoring in the 28th minute from a corner.
Trossard added a second early in the second half with a volley. The two goals were Belgium's first of the tournament.
Kevin De Bruyne scored Belgium's third, confirming New Zealand's elimination from the competition.
Brief response
Eli Just pulled one back for New Zealand in the 84th minute, his third goal of the tournament. But Romelu Lukaku responded less than a minute later with Belgium's fourth, and Alexis Saelemaekers completed the scoring in stoppage time.
Coach's assessment
All Whites coach Darren Bazeley said New Zealand could not afford lapses in concentration against elite opposition.
"For us to win at a World Cup, we need to be consistent in every moment throughout the whole game," Bazeley said. "We can't have two minutes, one minute, 30 seconds where we're not at our best because you get punished by good players."
Bazeley referenced New Zealand's earlier tournament performance, saying "that's the reality for us. It's a harsh reality, because we have performed pretty well [against Egypt] and lost a game 3-1."