Mohamed Salah scored one aim and assisted one other as Egypt got here from behind to beat New Zealand 3-1 and report their first-ever World Cup win.
The Pharoahs had not gained throughout appearances on the 1934, 1990 or 2018 editions of the match and, based mostly on a considerably insipid first-half efficiency, it appeared as if that long term would proceed, significantly after Finn Surman powered within the opener after questionable marking from a nook.
Salah’s most vital contribution of the primary half was to plant a free-kick the improper facet of the left-hand put up from the sting of the realm.
However seemingly after a stern talking-to from head coach Hossam Hassan on the break, the efficiency from the previous Liverpool man and his colleagues improved considerably after it.
Instantly, their assaults carried menace, forcing New Zealand to take a seat deeper and deeper – and simply earlier than the hour, in an analogous place to Surman, the unmarked Mostafa Zico headed in Mohamed Hany’s cross.
Mostafa Zico levelled for Egypt simply earlier than the hour mark
Inside 10 minutes of the equaliser, after a fast break, Salah got here alive when he traded passes with Zico, then swept residence – within the trademark style he did so usually within the Premier League – to offer Egypt the lead for the primary time in Vancouver.
And it was he who delivered the nook from the left that discovered substitute Trezeguet, who dived to go previous Max Crocombe to place the icing on the cake and put the knockout phases inside touching distance.
The important thing moments in Vancouver…
- 14: SAVE! Egypt goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir makes a sensible save at his close to put up to disclaim Elijah Simply.
- 15: GOAL! Finn Surman is left unmarked on the ensuing nook and heads New Zealand in entrance.
- 35: Omar Marmoush rolls a free-kick quick to Mohamed Salah, however the former Liverpool man bends it vast of the left-hand put up.
- 52: SAVE! Shobeir has to remain alert to tip a looping header from Callum McCowatt over the bar.
- 58: GOAL! Mohamed Hany picks out Mostafa Zico with a cross from the appropriate and he heads residence unchallenged.
- 67: GOAL! Zico exchanges passes with Salah, who then coolly sweeps residence to place Egypt in entrance for the primary time.
- 82: GOAL! Salah picks out Trezeguet with a nook from the appropriate, which he dives to plant previous Max Crocombe.
- 90+3: CHANCE! Substitute Zizo rounds Crocombe, however takes too lengthy to shoot and his effort is blocked.
What the consequence means…
Evaluation: Salah shines within the World Cup of the famous person
Salah has both scored or assisted in each World Cup sport he has performed in
Sky Sports activities’ Dan Lengthy:
He might not have hit the heights of years passed by throughout the 2025/26 season with Liverpool – what turned out to be his last marketing campaign at Anfield – however Mohamed Salah is doing what he does greatest at this summer time’s World Cup.
As soon as he had warmed up in Vancouver, he took the aim that put Egypt in entrance for the primary time with ease. It was a well-recognized end – and a historic one, too, because the 34-year-old grew to become the oldest goalscorer for Egypt at a World Cup. Later, he additionally grew to become the oldest African participant on report to each rating and help a aim at a World Cup.
In doing so, Salah has continued his report of both scoring or aiding in each World Cup sport he has featured in.
In 2018, he performed in opposition to Russia and Saudi Arabia and scored in each video games. Now, in 2026, he assisted Mohamed Hany’s aim in opposition to Belgium earlier than his starring function in opposition to New Zealand.
This summer time’s version has been dubbed the World Cup of the famous person – and after serving to the Pharoahs to the brink of the knockout phases, Salah is proving he’s nonetheless completely a kind of.
