06/21/26 10:15:00
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06/21 22:13 CDT Salah scores and Egypt downs New Zealand 3-1 for a first World
Cup victory
Salah scores and Egypt downs New Zealand 3-1 for a first World Cup victory
By ANNE M. PETERSON
AP Soccer Writer
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) --- Mohamed Salah scored the go-ahead goal and
Egypt went on to defeat New Zealand 3-1 on Sunday night and secure its
first-ever World Cup win.
Salah celebrated his 68th international goal by pumping his fist before he was
mobbed by his teammates in the 67th minute, to the thrill of the red-clad
Pharaohs fans in the sellout crowd at BC Place Vancouver.
When Salah was subbed off in the 85th minute he was treated to a standing
ovation.
Egypt moved to the top of the standings in Group G with the win, but was not
yet assured a spot in the knockout round. The Pharaohs will play a deciding
game against Iran on Friday in Seattle, needing at least a draw to advance.
Egypt is making its fourth World Cup appearance after missing the field in
Qatar four years ago. Salah scored a pair of goals in the 2018 World Cup in
Russia.
Finn Surman put New Zealand in front in the 15th minute with a flying header
off a corner kick delivered by Instagram sensation Tim Payne. It was the third
international goal for the 6-foot-3 defender who plays for the Portland Timbers
in MLS.
Omar Marmoush dropped a free kick off to Salah in the 35th minute but it went
just wide and bent into the side netting.
Egypt turned up the pressure coming out of the half and Mostafa Zico broke
through with equalizer, finding space between Surman and Payne for a header
that goalkeeper Max Crocombe got a hand on but couldn't stop in the 58th
minute. Zico celebrated by gesturing for the fans in the crowd to cheer.
Salah took a back-heel pass from Zico for his goal, which puts him just one
away from tying his coach Hossam Hassan for the national team's all-time
scoring lead. Trezeguet's diving header wrapped up scoring for Egypt in the
82nd.
Egypt's Hamdy Fathy was subbed off late in the first half after an apparent
injury away from the ball. He was replaced by Ramy Rabia.
In the opener against Belgium, Emam Ashour scored the early goal for Egypt but
then Romelu Lukaku subbed into the match and caused chaos in the box, resulting
in an own goal for a 1-1 draw.
New Zealand twice took the lead against Iran in their group opener, only to
cede it for a 2-2 draw in the end. Elijah Just scored both goals for the All
Whites.
New Zealand previously appeared at the World Cup in 2010 and drew all three of
its games.
Iran and Belgium played to a scoreless draw earlier in the day in Inglewood,
California, giving both teams two straight draws at the tournament. New Zealand
returns to Vancouver on Friday to face Belgium.
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AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/fifa-world-cup
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