Mohamed Salah propelled Egypt to their inaugural World Cup triumph as they rallied back from a goal down to defeat New Zealand 3-1, showcasing a remarkable second-half performance. This victory places Egypt at the top of Group G, significantly enhancing their chances of advancing to the knockout stage.
The first half was relatively uneventful, with Egypt trailing at halftime. However, they turned up the intensity in the second half, with the 34-year-old Salah proving he still possesses the ability to create moments of brilliance.
“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,”
he remarked, basking in the accolades from his teammates.
Following a 1-1 draw with Belgium in their opening match, Egypt now leads the group with four points from two fixtures. In contrast, New Zealand, who drew 2-2 with Iran in their first game, sits at the bottom with only one point. Earlier that day, Belgium was held to a scoreless draw against Iran.
New Zealand’s strategy in the first half was straightforward yet effective, opting for long balls when necessary and maintaining possession when possible. Defender Finn Surman opened the scoring with a powerful header from a corner, evading Ahmed Fatouh’s marking.
While Callum McCowatt had an early opportunity for New Zealand, having a header saved, Egypt applied mounting pressure after the break. Mostafa Ziko equalized in the 58th minute, heading in Mohamed Hany’s cross from the right.
Salah finally delivered the moment the crowd was eager for nine minutes later, advancing down the right flank, exchanging passes with Ziko, and placing the ball into the far corner of the net.
He nearly added a second goal in the 81st minute, cutting inside and sending a deflected shot over the bar, but he contributed an assist from the ensuing corner as substitute Mahmoud Trezeguet scored with a diving header at the near post.
New Zealand fought hard to close the gap, but late in the match, Hossam Abdelmaguid was substituted due to a suspected concussion, leaving the field with noticeable swelling around his eye.
As the match approached the 10th minute of stoppage time, Egyptian fans eagerly urged the referee to blow the final whistle.
When he did, a deafening cheer erupted as Salah and his teammates celebrated making history with the nation’s first World Cup victory. Coach Hossam Hassan joyously paraded around the stadium with an Egyptian flag.
Egypt, favored before the match with Salah and Omar Marmoush leading the charge, enjoyed strong support from a boisterous crowd at BC Place. However, an early lapse in defense allowed New Zealand’s Finn Surman to score with a header from Tim Payne’s corner in the 15th minute, momentarily quieting the sea of red.
