Salah leads Egypt to World Cup win as Cape Verde claim draw against Uruguay
Mohamed Salah scored one and assisted another as Egypt came from a goal down to defeat New Zealand 3-1 in their 2026 FIFA World Cup Group G encounter at the BC Place Vancouver stadium. The Pharaohs ended a 92-year wait for a World Cup win thanks to their Egyptian King and team captain as Egypt […]
Mohamed Salah scored one and assisted another as Egypt came from a goal down to defeat New Zealand 3-1 in their 2026 FIFA World Cup Group G encounter at the BC Place Vancouver stadium.
The Pharaohs ended a 92-year wait for a World Cup win thanks to their Egyptian King and team captain as Egypt scored three second half goals, with Mostafa Zico and Trezeguet scoring either side of Salah’s strike.
Finn Surman put New Zealand ahead with a header from a corner kick delivery to hand his team the initiative and a dream for heir first ever World Cup win, but that reality belonged to Egypt on the night as Hossam Hassan’s side turned up the hit in the second half and scored thrice in the space of 24 minutes.
Egypt responded with the equalizer also with a header, as Zico nodded home Mohamed Hany’s cross on 58 minutes, before Salah took centre stage.
The Liverpool legend exchanged passes with Zico before slotting the ball into the bottom corner for the lead, and delivered the corner kick for Trezeguet to head the clincher into the net on 82 minutes as Egypt claimed a first Mundial victory in their fourth World Cup.
Defeat is New Zealand’s first loss in five World Cup matches, ending a sequence of four consecutive draws, but the All Whites can still secure a knockout place with result against Belgium in their final group match.
Egypt also need at least a draw to clinch their first ever knockout phase qualification when they face Iran in the final group match.
Cape Verde also stayed alive in the World Cup and remain in contention for knockout round qualification following an impressive 2-2 draw against Uruguay in Group H.
Kevin Pina blasted a long-range free-kick through the wall into the bottom corner for the country’s first-ever World Cup goal and a 1-0 lead. Uruguay however responded with two goals before halftime, first Maxi Araujo equalized with a diving header from a rebound before Agustin Canobbio slotted home from close range to put the South Americans in the lead at half time.
Helio Varela intercepted a poor back pass and slotted the ball beyond the on-rushing goalkeeper into the net for the equalizer on the hour, and Cape Verde survived a late onslaught to maintain its five-match unbeaten run.