Egypt secured the first World Cup win in their history after defeating New Zealand 3-1 in a crucial Group G clash on Sunday, boosting their hopes of reaching the knockout stage for the first time.
New Zealand made the brighter start and took the lead after 15 minutes through defender Finn Surman, putting the Oceania side in control early in the match.
However, Egypt responded strongly through their experienced attacking trio. Star forward Mohamed Salah levelled the score before Mostafa Zico completed the turnaround, giving the Pharaohs a valuable advantage heading into halftime.
Trezeguet added a third goal in the second half to seal a memorable victory for Egypt, who showed resilience after falling behind and controlled much of the contest after equalising.
The result marks a historic milestone for the North African nation, which had never previously recorded a victory at a World Cup finals. The three points also move Egypt into a strong position in Group G as they chase a place in the knockout rounds.
For New Zealand, the defeat leaves them with work to do in their remaining group-stage fixtures despite an encouraging opening spell that saw them take an early lead. Egypt, meanwhile, will carry significant momentum into their final group match as they look to continue their impressive World Cup campaign.
