Plucky NZ fall to Brazil
The All Whites battled bravely but eventually fell to a 4-0 defeat to world champions Brazil in Geneva on Monday.
European stars Ronaldo, Adriano, Kaka and Juninho scored for the 2002 World Cup winners with New Zealand goalkeeper Glen Moss producing a string of saves to keep the scoreline down.
But Ricki Herbert's side were far from overawed by the occasion with two late goals inflating the final margin between the two sides.
The All Whites' best moment came with almost the last kick of the match when substitute Chris James picked out Tim Brown who saw his header flash over the bar.
Early on the New Zealanders looked comfortable on the ball and Herbert will have been pleased with their first half showing, conceding just Ronaldo's goal and defending stoutly when asked to by the Brazilians.
But despite a host of second half substitutions from coach Carlos Alberto Parreira, Brazil stepped up a gear - with substitute Robinho influential - and the All Whites were forced into defending for long periods.
The Kiwis settled the quicker of the two sides from the opening whistle and had two early corners to show for their efforts with Leo Bertos heavily involved.
However, the New Zealanders couldn't produce a shot from either position and it was Real Madrid's Roberto Carlos who had the first effort on goal when he forced Moss into a diving save after just three minutes with a trademark swerving drive from the edge of the penalty area.
The All White backline were intent on staying out of their own end and kept a high line that caught the Brazilians offside several times in the opening 15 minutes.
The next best chances fell to attacking fullback Cafu as he forced another smart save from Moss before blasting over the Kiwi goalkeeper's crossbar shortly after.
In between those efforts Herbert was forced into a change when skipper Danny Hay, who tore a stomach muscle, was replaced by Che Bunce after 25 minutes.
David Mulligan had the first sight of goal for the New Zealanders with a difficult volley that he could not keep down.
Shortly after, Vaughan Coveny picked out strike partner Chris Killen who out-jumped two defenders to get his header on target into Dida's waiting hands.
Brazil should have taken the lead when Cafu overlapped down the right and picked out an unmarked Ronaldo but the Real Madrid striker couldn't get his header on target.
From that point the Brazilians created a series of half chances with Cafu, Roberto Carlos and Kaka looking the most likely source of a goal.
And it was AC Milan midfielder Kaka who beat Bertos on the right five minutes before the break and drove to the byline before cutting the ball back to Ronaldo who forced it home between Moss' legs.
The Real Madrid striker could have made it 2-0 before the halftime whistle but when put clear by Kaka two minutes later, but clipped his shot over Moss but against the post.
The Kiwis had the first chance of the second frame when the world champions dallied at the back and Killen forced a mistake which saw the ball drop to Coveny whose goal-bound effort was blocked by Lucio.
Adriano made it 2-0 on 50 minutes after substitute Robinho, who came on for Ronaldo, drew three defenders before finding the Inter Milan striker who sent his left-footed effort sailing past Moss from the edge of the box.
Kaka then spurned another chance before Moss turned away a rasping Roberto Carlos freekick.
Herbert made his second change when he introduced Jarrod Smith for Mulligan with half an hour remaining.
Brazil made a triple change before Robinho forced Moss into yet another block.
Tim Brown was given a run in midfield as a replacement for Jeremy Christie.
Moss blocked a Juan header before Bertos had his best moment of the match, selling Cafu a dummy that brought a huge cheer from the 32,000 sell out crowd.
Bunce was stretchered off with a head wound after and was replaced by Raf de Gregorio.
Five minutes from time Kaka scored the third after breaking away from the Kiwi defense and tucking the ball under Moss.
Juninho added the fourth in stoppage time after being put clear by a Ricardinho through ball.
Brazil open their World Cup defense on June 14 against Croatia in Berlin.
The All Whites' next outing is against English Premier League side Charlton Athletic on August 5 in London.
The New Zealand soccer team, the All Whites, was beaten 4-0 during a friendly match against Brazil in Geneva on Monday morning NZST. 

New Zealand goalkeeper Glen Moss put in a good effort to keep the scoreline down by producing a string of saves, but Ronaldo, Adriano, Kaka, and Juniniho all managed to put the ball past him to score for Brazil.

New Zealand looked comfortable early on and Moss even managed to save a one-on-one with Brazilian skipper Cafu.  However it was Brazil who went into the half-time break 1-0 up courtesy of Ronaldo's goal in the 43rd minute.

Brazil then stepped it up in the second half and New Zealand was forced to spend long spells defending.

Adriano put the ball through the legs of Moss in the 51st minute to put Brazil further ahead, and Kaka and Juninho then sealed Brazil's win with one goal each in the last minutes of the match.

For Brazil, the match was a warm-up for the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany, which begins on June 9, with the hosts playing Costa Rica in Munich. Brazil's first match is on June 13, against Croatia in Berlin.