Salah Leads Egypt to Important Win Against New Zealand

Egypt showed great spirit in the second half to beat New Zealand 3-1 in a key Group G match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. This win boosts their chances of making it to the knockout stage.

The match took place at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver, Canada, on Monday.

From the start, both teams played with urgency, knowing they needed to win for maximum points.

New Zealand got off to a strong start, shocking the Egyptians in the 15th minute. Defender Finn Surman scored with a powerful header from a corner kick, putting his team ahead early in the game.

This goal gave New Zealand confidence as they pressed hard and limited Egypt's space in midfield.

Egypt had a tough time finding their groove in the first half. Their attacking players faced tight marking from the New Zealand defense.

Even after falling behind, Egypt stayed calm and slowly got back into the game.

With captain Mohamed Salah leading them, the North Africans began to hold more possession and created chances from the wings.

Their better movement and passing forced New Zealand to spend long spells on the defensive.

The pressure finally paid off in the 59th minute when Ziko scored to level the match. He connected with a precise cross from Mohamed Hany and headed the ball past the goalkeeper to make it 1-1.

This equalizer changed the game’s momentum completely.

Egypt played with more confidence and pushed forward for a second goal, while New Zealand struggled to handle Egypt's attacks.

Just eight minutes later, Egypt turned the game around with a goal from Salah.

The former Liverpool star showed his skill inside the box, finishing calmly after a quick attacking move. This gave Egypt a 2-1 lead in the 67th minute.

With the lead in hand, Egypt continued to control the ball and looked dangerous each time they attacked.

Their midfield took charge of the game, making it hard for New Zealand to respond meaningfully.

The key moment came in the 82nd minute when Mahmoud Hassan, known as “Trezeguet,” scored with a header from a corner kick taken by Salah.

This goal stretched Egypt’s lead to 3-1 and ended New Zealand’s hopes of coming back.

Egypt’s win was built on how strongly they responded after conceding early.

While New Zealand played well in the first half with good organization, they struggled to keep the same energy after halftime as Egypt ramped up the pressure.

Salah showed once more why he is one of Africa’s top players.

He not only scored but also assisted and kept troubling the New Zealand defense with his movement and leadership.

This result puts Egypt in a better position in Group G before their final group match. New Zealand now needs a win in their next game to keep their hopes alive.

Egypt finished as worthy winners after a strong second-half performance.

They turned an early setback into a convincing win that could be crucial for their chances of reaching the Round of 32.