Mohamed Salah Delivers as Egypt Rewrite History… New Zealand Stunned in World Cup Thriller

History was made on Monday as Egypt registered their first-ever FIFA World Cup victory, defeating New Zealand 3-1 in a dramatic Group G encounter, thanks to an inspired performance from captain Mohamed Salah.

It was a night of resilience, passion, and brilliance for the Pharaohs, who bounced back after trailing in the first half to keep their knockout hopes firmly alive.

The match did not start as planned for Egypt. Struggling to settle into their rhythm, they found themselves behind when New Zealand defender Finn Surman rose highest from a corner to score with a powerful header.

The All Whites looked organised and in control for much of the opening half, taking their 1-0 lead into the break and frustrating Egypt’s attacking efforts.

But the second half saw a completely different Egyptian side.

The comeback began in the 58th minute when Mostafa Zico connected brilliantly with a cross from Mohamed Hany, heading home the equaliser and injecting fresh belief into the Egyptian camp.

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With momentum shifting, Egypt turned up the pressure — and their captain stepped up.

In the 67th minute, Mohamed Salah combined beautifully with Zico before finishing calmly into the far corner, giving Egypt the lead and sending their fans into wild celebrations.

The Liverpool superstar looked dangerous throughout the second half and nearly added another goal to his tally. Instead, he turned provider late in the game, delivering a precise corner that substitute Mahmoud Trezeguet converted with a diving header to seal the historic victory.

The 3-1 triumph moves Egypt to four points from two matches, following their opening draw against Belgium, and places them at the top of Group G.

For New Zealand, the result was another painful missed opportunity. After drawing against Iran in their first match, the All Whites now sit bottom of the table with just one point, their qualification hopes hanging by a thread.

The final whistle sparked emotional scenes, with Salah at the centre of celebrations as Egypt finally broke their World Cup curse.

Now, all eyes turn to Egypt’s final group-stage clash against Iran, a match that could decide their fate in the tournament. Meanwhile, New Zealand will face Belgium in a must-win battle.

For Egypt, this wasn’t just a victory — it was a statement.