Egypt take down New Zealand for first-ever World Cup win
The All Whites made a bright start to the contest, and created the first opportunity with seven minutes on the clock when Liberato Cacace pulled the ball back to Sarpreet Singh, whose effort from just outside the area went wide of the right post.
New Zealand looked purposeful in the opening exchanges, after an incisive move saw Marko Stamenic free Elijah Just inside the area, but the winger’s near-post effort was well saved by Oufa Shobeir.
However, from the resulting corner, Tim Payne’s delivery found fellow defender Finn Surman, who rose highest to power his header into the net to give the All Whites a deserved lead.
A somewhat shell-shocked Egypt knew they needed to respond, not just on the scoreboard but in terms of their general performance.
The Pharaohs did improve as the first half wore on, with Omar Marmoush testing Max Crocombe with an effort from just outside the area, before Mohamed Salah sent his free-kick from a similar position just wide of the left post.
New Zealand came close to doubling their advantage seven minutes after the restart when a ball into the area was glanced goalwards by Callum McCowatt, but Shobeir was on hand to tip it over the crossbar. Egypt had clearly received a telling off at HT, and they played with much more purpose and tempo in the second half.
The uptick in performance paid dividends as they drew level just before the hour mark when Mohamed Hany’s cross into the area found Mostafa Ziko, whose close-range header beat the outstretched left hand of Crocombe.
The Pharaohs had all of the momentum and belief at this stage, and they were able to make it tell less than 10 minutes later when Ziko exchanged a one-two with Salah inside the area, with the former Liverpool man netting to complete the turnaround.
The seven-time African champions were vastly improved in the second half, and they put the seal on their maiden WC victory with eight minutes of normal time remaining when substitute Trézéguet’s header from Salah’s corner found the net.
Having extended their unbeaten H2H record to four matches, Egypt have all but secured their place in the Round of 32. They face Iran in their final group game, while New Zealand will need to defeat Belgium if they are to join them, with the WC’s lowest-ranked side now having won just one of their last 13 matches.