It was a case of missed opportunities as Auckland City last night (NZT) bowed out of football's club World Cup in Japan with a whimper.
A quickfire double at the end of the first half from newly-crowned Japanese champions Kashiwa Reysol accounted for Auckland, although they at least mounted a gutsy second half fightback.
The Oceania champions were unlucky not to pull back at least a goal, with Kashiwa keeper Kazushige Kirihata producing two world-class saves to deny David Mulligan and Ivan Vicelich in the space of two minutes.
Unfortunately for Auckland, those are the breaks in a knockout tournament, and they'll now head back to New Zealand to prepare for the slightly less glamorous opposition of Otago United.
Auckland coach Ramon Tribulietx said he was proud his side competed until the last minute, but that was scant consolation as their tournament ended before it really began.
"First half, I thought we were in the game but, unfortunately, we conceded two goals in two minutes when we looked okay,'' he said. "The team stood up in the second half and actually showed we're a good team.
"We competed in the second half, we were the better team in the second half. Unfortunately we couldn't score but we had the chances.''
The best of those chances came 15 minutes before the final whistle, at the height of Auckland's domination.
First, David Mulligan came agonisingly close from a free kick just outside the area, as his curled strike appeared destined for the top corner until Kirihata clawed it away. From the next move, Vicelich found himself free in the Kashiwa box but his goalbound header was also kept out by the goalkeeper.
Captain Vicelich said the result was a huge disappointment for the part-timers, though he admitted his side were up against it playing Japan's best.
"If you see our changing room after the game you'll see all the heads down and the players disappointed,'' he said. "We went into the match knowing it was going to be very difficult, but there were glimpses there of some hope.
"They were a good side, the were very strong at set pieces and that had the undoing of us.''
Both Kashiwa goals arrived after set pieces had broken down around the Auckland area, during a period when City were well in the game.
Goalkeeper Jacob Spoonley took the blame for the first, scored by Junya Tanaka, after being beaten at his near post, while the second contained an element of fortune for the home side.
"I got done by the eyes,'' Spoonley said. "He looked up to the centre, so I thought I had his number, then he smashed it in the near post. Goalkeeping 101 is to protect your near post, I didn't do that and it cost us tonight.
"For the second goal ... they got lucky. A mis-kick, a deflection, all in the 18-yard box, and they were lucky enough to get the bounce of the ball there.''
As Spoonley explained, conceding just before the break proved a dagger blow to the Aucklanders' chances of progressing further in the tournament.
"Going in at halftime 0-0 or 1-0, I think we would've seen if Kashiwa had the resolve to stay with us in the second half.
"But I don't think we did any disservice to football in New Zealand, and Auckland City's particularly. We really showed what kind of brand of football we can play. I think there's some positives we can take away from this tournament.''
