Egypt secured a landmark World Cup victory on Sunday as they came from behind to defeat New Zealand 3-1 in Group G.
Mohamed Salah starred with a decisive goal and assist, powering his team to the top of the group.
New Zealand started strongly, executing a disciplined game plan built on long balls and structured possession. Their approach paid off when defender Finn Surman broke the deadlock from a corner, heading past Egypt’s defence after losing his marker.
Egypt struggled to find rhythm in the first half, while New Zealand nearly doubled their lead through Callum McCowatt, whose header was tipped over the bar.
The All Whites went into halftime leading 1-0, leaving Egypt with work to do.
Egypt fight back after the break
The second half saw a transformed Egyptian side as they increased pressure and tempo.
Their equaliser came in the 58th minute when Mostafa Zico headed home a cross from Mohamed Hany, bringing Egypt back into the contest.
From that moment, Egypt dominated possession and pushed New Zealand deeper into their half.
Mohamed Salah then delivered the decisive moment in the 67th minute.
He surged forward down the right flank, combined with Zico in a quick one-two, and calmly finished into the far corner to put Egypt ahead 2-1.
Salah continued to threaten and nearly added another goal in the 81st minute, forcing a deflected effort just over the bar.
His influence, however, did not stop there.
From the resulting corner after Salah’s chance, substitute Mahmoud Trezeguet powered a near-post header to make it 3-1, effectively sealing the win for Egypt.
The Egyptian supporters erupted in celebration as the team held firm in the closing stages despite New Zealand’s late pressure.
Late drama and emotional scenes
New Zealand pushed hard to reduce the deficit, but Egypt’s defence stood strong. Defender Hossam Abdelmaguid suffered a suspected concussion late in the match and had to be substituted.
As stoppage time stretched beyond 10 minutes, Egyptian fans demanded the final whistle before erupting in celebration once it arrived.
Coach Hossam Hassan wrapped himself in an Egyptian flag and acknowledged the emotional significance of the win.
Salah described the victory as a major milestone for his team, saying:
“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 also received praise from teammates and fans for leading Egypt’s comeback performance.
Group G standings take shape
The result pushes Egypt to the top of Group G with four points from two matches.
- Egypt: 4 points
- Belgium: 2 points
- Iran: 2 points
- New Zealand: 1 point
New Zealand now face a must-win scenario against Belgium, while Egypt will meet Iran in a decisive final group match.
Coach Hossam Hassan said the atmosphere felt like playing in Cairo due to the passionate Egyptian support.
He added that the players were motivated by the crowd, describing the stadium environment as a “home-like experience” despite being abroad.
New Zealand captain Chris Wood acknowledged Salah’s impact, saying Egypt’s depth made them difficult to contain.
He noted that while his team attempted to manage Salah, Egypt’s other attacking players also created significant problems.
