New Zealand 1-3 Egypt: Inspired comeback seals maiden World Cup victory | OneFootball

Ollie Whitmore, Chief football news reporter

Standings provided bySofascore

An inspired second-half turnaround secured Egypt a first ever win at the World Cup finals, defeating New Zealand 3-1 to go top of Group G at BC Place in Vancouver.

Finn Surman struck 15 minutes into the game, heading a corner into the net after the lowest-ranked side at the tournament started brightest and were well worth their lead going into half-time.

But a brilliant second half display from the Pharaohs saw Mostafa Ziko, Mohamed Salah, and Mahmoud Trézéguet mount a remarkable resurgence to make history and give Egypt a great chance of reaching the round of 32.

As it happened

Elijah Just was gunning for a third goal in two matches from the offset, running in behind onto a well-placed pass into the left channel from Marco Stamenić and forcing a good save from the goalkeeper as Egypt switched off.

They couldn’t regain their focus before Surman rose highest to power the header past Mostafa Shobeir to give his country a deserved advantage given the balance of play early on.

Manchester City forward Omar Marmousch tested Max Crocombe for the first time soon after with a curling shot from the edge of the penalty area, but the Millwall keeper was down smartly to parry the strike.

Egypt’s best chance of the half, though, fell to Salah with a free kick 20 yards from goal that he curled not far wide following Marmousch’s touch back to tee up the former Liverpool winger.

It wasn’t entirely one-way traffic in the second period as New Zealand’s Callum McCowatt came close to putting his side back in front, forcing a fingertip save from Shobeir with his flicked header towards goal.

Much like the Pharaohs beforehand, New Zealand simply let their guard down inside the box and left Ziko far too much space to get on the end of Mohamed Hany’s cross and beat Crocombe with a free header two minutes before the hour.

Ziko then spotted Salah in a pocket of space out on the right, and Liverpool’s all-time Champions League top scorer did the rest on a trademark run cutting into the penalty area and rolling his shot accurately into the bottom left corner.

The two-time Premier League winner then followed in Ziko’s footsteps by turning provider from a corner in towards the front post that Trézéguet met to head under the goalkeeper and in for number three, completing an inspired comeback.

It may well have been four when Zizo latched onto a header in behind the New Zealand defence and ran around the goalkeeper, but couldn’t work the ball onto his right foot in time to convert and Crocombe made up the ground to save it.

But the two-goal advantage was too much of a task for Darren Bazeley’s side, as the final whistle marked a first ever victory on the world stage for Egypt at the fourth tournament since making their debut back in 1994.

What next for Egypt and New Zealand?

Egypt’s work to get out of the group isn’t finished just yet, with a huge game against second-placed Iran coming up on Saturday from which they will need at least a point to guarantee progression to the round of 32.

Sat bottom of the group on a single point, New Zealand aren’t out of the picture either but face the more challenging task of a frustrated Belgium side that are yet to win at these finals.

A memorable win against the Red Devils is likely in order if they have any hope of reaching the knockout stages, due to their -2 goal difference weakening their position should they finish third in an utterly fascinating Group G.

For more detailed reports, reaction, and analysis of the World Cup as it happens, head to our website and favourite our page on OneFootball.

New Zealand – Egypt Live Score