Egypt earns first World Cup win with comeback over New Zealand

Egypt turned a one-goal deficit into a landmark result at BC Place, recovering from Finn Surman's early strike to beat New Zealand 3-1 and secure the country's first World Cup victory. The equalizer from Mostafa Ziko in the 58th minute changed the match's rhythm, and Mohamed Salah's go-ahead goal nine minutes later put the Pharaohs on course for a breakthrough that Trézéguet finished in the 82nd minute.

The result carried unusual weight because it was the first time Egypt and New Zealand had met in a World Cup, and it came with Egypt already under pressure after opening Group G with a 1-1 draw against Belgium. New Zealand had entered the game with a 2-2 draw against Iran, making the Vancouver meeting a chance for either side to separate itself early in the group stage.

Surman gave New Zealand the lead in the 15th minute, and for a long stretch Egypt had to chase the game against an opponent organized enough to make every possession matter. FIFA said this was the first time Egypt had trailed at halftime in a World Cup match, a detail that underscored how much the comeback meant beyond the scoreboard. Once Mohamed Hany delivered a precise cross to the penalty spot and Ziko met it with a firm header to level at 1-1, Egypt looked transformed.

Salah's finish in the 67th minute rewarded that shift in tempo and belief. Trézéguet's late goal settled the contest and completed a comeback that gave Egypt three points and moved it to 4 points from two matches, while New Zealand finished with 1 point from two games. The standings left Egypt in a strengthened position in Group G and forced New Zealand to search for points in its next match to keep its tournament hopes alive.

For Egypt, the night in Vancouver was more than a single result. It was a first win on the World Cup stage, earned by absorbing early adversity and turning a difficult start into the kind of response that can reshape a group-stage campaign.