2026 World Cup : Egypt fight back to sink New Zealand and eye the last 16
It did not start the way the Pharaohs had planned. For much of the first half, Egypt were second best and found themselves trailing New Zealand before turning the game on its head after the break. In Vancouver, Hossam Hassan’s side had the final word, coming from behind to win 3-1 and claim their first ever World Cup victory.
In a Group G where nobody has really pulled clear, that result could end up being huge when the dust settles.
The Kiwis had the upper hand for long spells
New Zealand will probably have imagined a worse start. The more positive side early on, Darren Bazeley’s men quickly grew in confidence and were rewarded after 15 minutes. From a Tim Payne corner, Finn Surman rose above everyone to head past Mostafa Shobeir.
Egypt, by contrast, drifted through a flat first half. Mohamed Salah was kept quiet and their attacks too often broke down on the edge of the box. At the interval, the Kiwis looked in control. But after the restart, the whole picture gradually changed.
Ziko sparked the comeback, Salah finished the job
Sharper and far more dangerous in the New Zealand half, Egypt began to pile on the pressure. Mostafa Ziko eventually dragged them level, heading home after Max Crocombe came hesitantly off his line. The momentum had shifted.
A few minutes later, Ziko and Mohamed Salah linked up in the box, allowing the Egypt captain to put his side ahead. With his third goal at a World Cup, the Liverpool forward became his country’s outright leading scorer in the tournament. New Zealand never really got back into it. Introduced from the bench, Trezeguet sealed it by heading home a Salah corner.
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A night of nicknames and one last decisive test
Egypt’s other two scorers on the night are not even known by their real names. Mostafa Ziko got his nickname from his older brother, who has gone by the same name for years. As for Mahmoud Hassan, he became “Trezeguet” from the start of his career, with some of his coaches saying he looked like the former France international.
Those familiar names lit up a night that will stick in the memory for Egypt’s football fans. With four points from two matches, the Pharaohs have given themselves a strong chance before facing Iran. New Zealand, meanwhile, will play for their World Cup 2026 survival against Belgium.
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