Tahiti out of Confederations Cup after being outscored 24-1

Tahiti’s visit to soccer’s elite Confederations Cup in Brazil is over. And though the South Pacific islanders didn’t win a game -- in fact, they scored just one goal -- it was an eventful stay.

Ranked 138th in the world but in the tournament by virtue of having won the Oceania Football Confederation title, Tahiti fell to Uruguay, 8-0, on Sunday. Combine that with a 6-1 loss to Nigeria and a 10-0 drubbing by Spain, and Tahiti goes home having been outscored 24-1.

In Sunday’s other group-play final World Cup champion Spain beat Nigeria 3-0. Spain will play Italy and host Brazil will meet Uruguay in this semifinals of the tournament, which is something of a dress rehearsal for next year’s World Cup.

Abel Hernandez scored four times for Uruguay on Sunday, the first coming in the second minute and the last on a penalty kick 22 minutes into the second half. Luis Suarez added two goals in the final eight minutes of regulation.

Despite its performance, the Tahitian team’s energy and attitude -- and the fact its roster is composed almost entirely of amateur players -- made it something of a Walter Mitty-type fan favorite among the Brazilians, who cheered the team wildly.

In Spain’s win, Jordi Alba scored three minutes into the match and with two minutes left in regulation time. Fernando Torres accounted for the other goal in the 62nd minute.

ALSO:

U.S., Mexico headed in opposite directions

Watch Abby Wambach break Mia Hamm’s scoring record

Spain beats Tahiti 10-1 -- and it should have been worse, coach says