Egypt get maiden World Cup win at All Whites’ expense

New Zealand 1-3 Egypt

VANCOUVER, BC–It looked bright for the All Whites at halftime when they were ahead, but Egypt found a gear that New Zealand could not and Egypt went out 3-1 winners and get their first ever win at a World Cup in their ninth attempt.

New Zealand took the lead in the 15th minute after Finn Surman headed in a corner from Tim Payne’s. However, for the third time in four World Cup matches, New Zealand were unable to keep the lead.

Egypt were clearly the better side in the second half and got the equalizer in the 58th minute after Mostafa Zico headed home Mohamed Hany’s cross. Mo Salah then got his goal in the 67th minute on a counter attack capped off after collecting a back heel from Zico. Trezeguet would then head home a corner from Salah in the 82nd minute to give Egypt the win and head up Group H.

“It’s disappointing,” said New Zealand head coach Darren Bazeley. “We were so good in the first half. We dominated possession and created a lot of chances. We came out in the second half and I thought we were okay but we didn’t quite get to the pace of the game. Egypt upped the tempo and we couldn’t replicate what we were doing so well in the first half. Ultimately, that hurt us. We’re still one game away from making history. We know we have to beat Belgium now.”

New Zealand, who remain winless at a World Cup, now need to defeat Belgium in their final match in Vancouver on Friday (8pm PT, Fox/Telemundo) to have any chance of advancing to the Round of 32. Egypt just need a draw against Iran in Seattle (8pm, FS1/NBC Universo) to advance while a win would give them the Group.