Egypt delivered a remarkable turnaround against New Zealand, securing a 3 to 1 victory in their Group G fixture, with Mohamed Salah playing a central role by scoring once and providing an assist. This result not only marks Egypt’s first ever success at a World Cup finals but also strengthens their position to reach the knockout phase for the first time in their history.
New Zealand started brightly and went ahead midway through the opening half when Finn Surman rose highest to convert a well delivered corner from Tim Payne in the 15th minute, briefly raising hopes of a landmark win. Yet their inability to maintain control after taking the lead continued, echoing their earlier draw against Iran where late composure proved costly.
After the interval, Egypt responded with greater urgency following tactical changes from coach Hossam Hassan. Mostafa Zico restored parity in the 58th minute with a well directed header from Mohamed Hany’s cross. Shortly after, Salah linked up intelligently with Zico inside the penalty area before finishing with precision to turn the match in Egypt’s favour.
The North African side confirmed all three points late on when Salah delivered a corner that substitute Trezeguet headed home in the 82nd minute. The victory sends Egypt to the summit of Group G, and qualification will be secured if they defeat Iran in their final group match. New Zealand remain without a win in the competition and must now overcome Belgium to keep their campaign alive.
Egypt’s resilience underlined their growing stature on the global stage, with Salah again central to their ambitions as both scorer and creator. The victory will boost confidence ahead of their decisive clash with Iran, while New Zealand must regroup quickly before meeting Belgium. Group G now remains finely balanced as qualification scenarios begin to take shape.
