Mohamed Salah led Egypt to their inaugural World Cup triumph, overcoming an early deficit to defeat New Zealand 3-1 in a thrilling second-half performance. This victory places Egypt at the top of Group G, significantly enhancing their chances of advancing to the knockout rounds.
After a subdued first half where they trailed at halftime, Egypt, along with Salah, ignited their offensive in the latter stages. The 34-year-old winger proved he still possesses the ability to create magic on the field.
“It’s a great achievement for all the players. It’s a great win. It’s a great vibe. The next game is very important,”
Salah remarked, receiving accolades from his teammates.
Following a 1-1 draw with Belgium in their opener, Egypt now leads the group with four points from two matches. Meanwhile, New Zealand, who tied 2-2 with Iran in their first game, sits at the bottom with just one point. Earlier on Sunday, Belgium managed a goalless draw against Iran.
New Zealand’s strategy in the first half was straightforward yet effective, using long balls when necessary while maintaining possession when possible. Defender Finn Surman opened the scoring with a header from a corner, evading Ahmed Fatouh to power the ball into the net.
While Callum McCowatt had an early chance with a header that was tipped over the bar, Egypt responded strongly after the break. They equalized in the 58th minute through Mostafa Ziko, who directed Mohamed Hany’s cross from the right into the goal.
Salah then delighted the fans by scoring nine minutes later, making a run down the right flank, exchanging passes with Ziko, and finishing into the far corner.
He nearly added another goal in the 81st minute with a deflected shot, but he contributed an assist from the ensuing corner, where substitute Trézéguet scored with a diving header at the near post.
The New Zealand team fought hard to narrow the gap, but Hossam Abdelmaguid had to leave the match late due to a suspected concussion, with noticeable swelling around his eye.
As the match approached ten minutes of stoppage time, Egyptian fans urged the referee to conclude the game.
When the final whistle blew, a deafening cheer erupted as Salah and his teammates celebrated making history with the nation’s first World Cup win, while coach Hossam Hassan paraded around the stadium with an Egyptian flag.
Pre-match favorites, led by Salah and Omar Marmoush in the attack, enjoyed strong support from a passionate crowd at BC Place. However, poor defending cost them early on, allowing New Zealand’s Finn Surman to score a powerful header from Tim Payne’s corner in the 15th minute, quieting the sea of red in the stands.
