Egypt made history as they came from behind to beat New Zealand 3-1 in Vancouver in their World Cup Group G clash on Monday morning (UK time).
Finn Surman headed New Zealand in front after just 15 minutes, with the All Whites holding the lead until half-time.
However, Egypt moved through the gears in the second half, finding three goals in 24 minutes to snatch the result, courtesy of Mostafa Ziko, Mohamed Salah and Trezeguet.
New Zealand vs Egypt match momentum
Egypt and Salah finally have their World Cup moment
For Egypt, this was a moment 92 years in the making.
The Pharaohs were part of the second-ever World Cup back in 1934, but lost 4-2 to Hungary in the first round. Since then, this competition has brought nothing but pain for Africa’s most decorated nation, with five defeats and no wins in eight matches. Until now.
It looked unlikely when Surman put New Zealand in front, and Egypt struggled to get to grips with the game in the opening 45 minutes.
But in the second half, their superior attacking quality showed, and they put the All Whites to the sword with a ruthless display.
Most fitting was Mohamed Salah scoring the goal that put Egypt ahead. The departing Liverpool star has scored at the World Cup before, but he has felt the Egyptian pain at the tournament just as much as anybody.
Here, however, he delivered the decisive goal in his nation’s first-ever win on this stage. International goal number 68 for Salah will undoubtedly go down as his most important, and it’s one that all but confirms Egypt’s place in the World Cup knockout rounds for the first time.
Ziko steals the show
While Salah scored the decisive goal, it was Mostafa Ziko who stole the show in Vancouver.
The wonderfully named winger — who plays for Pyramids FC in his homeland — was the catalyst behind everything Egypt did well in their second-half comeback, scoring a free header to equalise in the 59th minute and combining wonderfully with Salah to assist the second goal.
They were just two moments in a dynamic performance from Ziko, who created two big chances, attempted four shots, delivered two crosses and had six touches in the opposition box in a performance that the New Zealand defence simply couldn’t handle.
Salah is this team’s talisman, but Ziko will be the hero in Cairo tonight in what is just his fourth international cap to date.
New Zealand’s wait goes on
Something had to give here, and while Egypt will celebrate history, New Zealand’s wait goes on.
The All Whites have now played eight World Cup matches since their debut in 1982, but are still yet to taste victory with four draws and four defeats.
There was so much to like about their first-half performance in Vancouver, with New Zealand outshooting Egypt 7-6 in the first 45 minutes, taking the lead through Surman, and shutting down the considerable attacking threats of Salah, Omar Marmoush and Ziko.
However, the second half was a frustrating case of New Zealand running out of energy and ideas, succumbing to raw star power and seeing the shot script flip to 13-5 in Egypt’s favour.
All is not lost for New Zealand, with their draw against Iran meaning a win in their final group game would almost certainly see them into the knockout rounds for the first time. However, that game happens to come against a wounded Belgium desperate for a win of their own, meaning it’s a tall order from here for Darren Bazeley’s side.
Plenty to be proud of, but ultimately more World Cup disappointment for New Zealand.
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