Mostafa Ziko58′
Mohamed Salah67′
Mahmoud Trezeguet82′
Egypt has won a World Cup match for the first time in history. In Vancouver, national coach Hossam Hassan’s team defeated New Zealand 3-1. Mohamed Salah (34) was the most important man on the Egyptian side with a goal and an assist.
Sports editor
It was a frustrating curse for Egypt for years. The country has been considered the best African country since the invention of football. It won the most African Cups (7) and the African Champions League was won most often by Al Ahly from Cairo (12). But winning a match at the World Cup? Egypt has never been able to do that.
Mohamed Salah changed that on Sunday evening in Vancouver. The captain, who already scored in the unsuccessful 2018 World Cup participation, provided the final push to the coveted three points in the second half against New Zealand. And they didn’t come easy.
New Zealand had taken the lead after 15 minutes through a hard header from central defender Finn Surman. The All Whites have also never won a match at the World Cup. In 2010 they were the only undefeated team with three draws in the group stage. But you don’t gain anything from that.
Based on the first 30 minutes, New Zealand seemed to be on its way to its first victory, but then Egypt woke up. The chances piled up, the pressure increased and after the break they struck. A cross from Mohamed Hany fell exactly on Mostafa Zico’s head: 1-1.
The final push, as mentioned, came from Salah. In the 67th minute, the 34-year-old star player dribbled into the penalty area and combined with Zico. After the one-two he pushed the ball into the left corner. A typical Salah goal: 2-1.
It was no longer exciting, because in the 82nd minute Salah earned a corner kick. He hurled it at the head of substitute Trezeguet: 3-1.
For example, Egypt takes the lead in group H with 4 points, where Belgium and Iran both remain on two points due to a draw. The final group match will take place against Iran at 3 a.m. Dutch time next week.
liveblog
Hossam Abdulmajeed is replaced by Mohamed Abdel Monem
Elijah Just is replaced by Francis De Vries
Tim Payne is replaced by Tyler Bindon
Mohamed Salah is replaced by Hossam Abdulmajeed
Emam Ashour is replaced by Zizo
1-3 GOAL by Mahmoud Trezeguet!
There is the decision! Salah’s corner comes to Trezeguet, who makes the score 1-3.
Omar Marmoush is replaced by Mahmoud Trezeguet
Mostafa Ziko is replaced by Hamza Abdelkarim
Sarpreet Singh is replaced by Ryan Thomas
Liberato Cacace is replaced by Jesse Randall
1-2 Egypt! GOAL by Mohamed Salah!
There’s Salah! He looks for the one-two in the penalty area and slides the ball into the long corner. A typical Salah goal, but possibly also a historic Salah goal.
Callum McCowatt is replaced by Ben Old
1-1! GOAL by Mostafa Zico!
Egypt draws level! It is reward after hard work in the second half. The pressure was increased on New Zealand. Now a cross from Hany falls over defender Surman and right on the head of Zico, who heads high into the goal.
Hamdy Fathy is replaced by Rami Rabia
Egypt does not look good in Vancouver. After the opening goal, the team hardly created any chances. In fact, New Zealand feels comfortable enough to hunt for a second goal.
