June 22 (THEWILL) — Egypt produced a commanding second-half comeback to defeat New Zealand 3-1 on Monday and secure their first FIFA World Cup victory since 1990.
The Pharaohs were forced to recover after New Zealand made a bright start and took the lead in the 15th minute, raising hopes of an upset against the African giants.
Despite falling behind, Egypt remained composed and gradually asserted control of the contest.
Their dominance finally yielded results in the second half when they equalised in the 58th minute before completing the turnaround with a second goal nine minutes later.
With New Zealand chasing the game, Egypt struck again in the 82nd minute to seal an impressive victory and spark celebrations among their supporters.
Captain Mohamed Salah played a key role in the comeback, while Mohamed Marmoush was also influential as Egypt’s attacking quality proved decisive.
The statistics reflected Egypt’s superiority. The North Africans enjoyed 56 per cent possession and produced 19 shots, including seven on target, compared to New Zealand’s 10 attempts.
Although the All Whites tested Egypt on several occasions and recorded five shots on target, they struggled to regain momentum after conceding the second goal.
The victory marks a significant moment for Egyptian football, ending a 36-year wait for a World Cup win and strengthening the team’s hopes of progressing from the group stage.
For Salah, widely regarded as one of Africa’s greatest footballers, the performance could become one of the defining moments of his World Cup career as he guided Egypt to a statement victory on the global stage.
