Egypt scored the equaliser in the 58th minute through Mostafa Zico, who headed home Mohamed Hany’s cross.
By Kehinde Okeowo
Egypt earned their first three points in a World Cup match on Monday after coming from behind to beat New Zealand 3-1 at BC Place in Vancouver, Canada.
With the victory, they have also qualified for the knockout stage of the tournament for the first time in their history.
New Zealand opened the scoring in the 15th minute when Finn Surman headed home Tim Payne’s well-placed corner.
In the second half, Egypt manager Hossam Hassan made some tactical tweaks which ensured his side scored three goals in the space of 24 second-half minutes.
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The Pharaohs found the equaliser in the 58th minute through Mostafa Zico, who headed home Mohamed Hany’s cross.
Salah then put the North Africans ahead for the first time in the match after playing a neat one-two with Zico in the penalty area before finding the bottom corner.
The former Liverpool forward thereafter turned from goalscorer to provider when he delivered a corner for substitute Trezeguet to head home in the 82nd minute.
The first victory for Hassan’s men in their fourth World Cup campaign took them to the top of Group G, ensuring they will win the group if they beat Iran on Saturday.
New Zealand, however, must defeat Belgium in their last group game to have any chance of progressing to the round of 32.
