Egypt ended a 92-year wait for a World Cup victory on Monday, staging a remarkable second-half comeback to defeat New Zealand 3-1 and move to the top of Group G.
Despite falling behind to an early goal, the Pharaohs roared back after the interval with strikes from Mostafa Zico, Mohamed Salah, and substitute Trezeguet. The win puts them in a strong position to qualify for the knockout stages for the first time in their history.
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New Zealand took a surprise lead when Finn Surman connected with a powerful header, leaving Egypt trailing at the break. However, a transformed Egyptian side emerged for the second half, inspired by a tactical masterclass from manager Hossam Hassan.
The comeback began when Zico headed in the equalizer. The turning point came shortly after, as Salah orchestrated and finished a brilliant move. After a slick interchange with Zico, Salah received a clever backheel inside the box and calmly slotted the ball home to give Egypt the lead.
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The victory was sealed when Trezeguet rose to head in a corner from Salah, capping a dominant second-half performance that earned the Liverpool star Player of the Match honors.
A Long-Awaited Triumph
The final whistle sparked joyous celebrations among the Egyptian players, staff, and fans. Manager Hossam Hassan was seen running along the touchline with an Egyptian flag, celebrating a win that was nine decades in the making.
“Look at what it means to them,” said former Congolese footballer Gabriel Zakuani on Radio 5 Live. “This is history for them and they take control of the group, which is the most important thing.”
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The result leaves Group G wide open, with no team yet qualified or eliminated. Egypt will face Iran in their final group match on Saturday, knowing a positive result will secure their place in the round of 32. In the other fixture, New Zealand will play Belgium, with both teams still in contention to advance.
