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VANCOUVER, British Columbia — In a historic moment for Egypt, Mohamed Salah scored a dramatic, 67th-minute go-ahead goal to help deliver his country a come-from-behind 3-1 win and a first World Cup victory in its footballing history.
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New Zealand took the lead thanks to an athletic Finn Surman header early in the first half. At the same time, Egypt looked dreadful going forward while New Zealand’s energy was contagious.
But the script flipped in the second half as Egypt pushed forward in a dramatic way. Two goals in nine minutes gave them a lead they would not relinquish. One more goal late on was enough to send the thousands of ecstatic Egyptian fans in Vancouver into raptures — and Egypt to the top of Group G on four points.
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Our writers break down the key talking points from BC Place:
The weight of Egyptian football history has always been held against Salah because of the country’s success in the years before he made his international debut.
Unlike the players who were so successful between 2006 and 2010, winning three straight Africa Cup of Nations titles, Salah has not won one (he’s been on the losing side in two finals), and despite scoring the goals that have propelled Egypt into two World Cups, Egypt had never won a game in the finals.
In Vancouver on Sunday, Salah helped change that, sliding Egypt into a lead against New Zealand following a resurgent second-half performance.
There is a sense that Salah’s legs won’t move as quickly as he wants them to sometimes these days, and Egypt are using the now 34-year-old differently at this tournament. Rather than play off the right as he did so successfully for so long at Liverpool, he has operated centrally, which manager Hossam Hassan thinks potentially increases his involvement.
Leaves Liverpool as one of their all-time greats and will want to impress potential new clubs.
Against Belgium in the opening game, the ploy worked because Egypt’s opponent defended high and the game was open. New Zealand was a totally different challenge for Egypt, especially after scoring first. A big, physical, organised team subsequently sat deep in the first half and tried to hit Egypt on the counter-attack.
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In a crowded midfield, Salah struggled to create space for himself. At Liverpool, he has developed the idea over the past few years that eventually he’ll find a way to influence what’s happening because of his experience. Without the same levels of quality supporting him tonight, however, he could not afford to stand around, waiting for the game to come to him.
Hassan switched things around in the second half, with Salah pushing higher, more or less as a centre-forward. The trick worked — with Emam Ashour, more naturally a midfielder, offering more cover defensively, Egypt’s full-backs were able to attack more. Their equaliser on Mostafa Ziko’s header came from a Mohamed Hany cross, and Salah, now tasked with finishing chances rather than creating them, soon swept them into a lead.
Though Trezeguet scored for Egypt to make it 3-1, Salah’s goal was the most important, changing the conversation about his place in the country’s football history forever.
Simon Hughes
The atmosphere before the game was not rollicking and enthusiastic as it was before Canada’s cinematic win over Qatar in this same stadium three days earlier. There was an abundance of nervous energy instead. Neither New Zealand nor Egypt had ever won a World Cup finals game, setting up for some fans to witness history and others to suffer continued heartache.
The crowd was overwhelmingly pro-Egypt — as were the journalists in the media tribune. They looked destitute after a miserable first-half performance from Salah and company.
But belief is a wonderful thing and Egypt’s fans kept growing into the game in the second half as the Pharaohs piled up the chances. You could see what it means to a country to finally earn its first World Cup win in its fourth tournament. With Salah’s go-ahead goal, journalists leapt out of their seats, hugged nearby compatriots and punched the air in glee.
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You only get your first World Cup win once. And the way that aforementioned nervous energy transformed into elation? It is a reminder of what that win can feel like to those who have had their heart broken many times before.
Now, what’s possible for Egypt? According to The Athletic’s World Cup tracker, the North African nation has over a 99 per cent chance of advancement and a 61 per cent chance of topping the group. More history could be in the offing.
Joshua Kloke
This result has implications for both the United States and Canada.
With draws in every game beforehand in Group G, Egypt is now in pole position to finish top. A win or even a draw in their final game against Iran on Friday in Seattle should be enough to send them through to a round of 32 game in the same city on Wednesday, July 1, against a third-place team.
And if Egypt win that game? They potentially would be in line to play the United States in the round of 16, provided Mauricio Pochettino’s men win their last-32 game, of course.
Yes, we’re looking far ahead here, but there is a world in which Egypt could be the team standing between the U.S. and the quarterfinals.
And Canada? Entering this game, The Athletic had Egypt as the most likely round-of-32 opponent for Jesse Marsch’s side, should they win Group B. It’s looking increasingly like topping the group would set Canada up against the third-place team from Group G, which, as of now, is most likely to be Iran.
If that turns out to be New Zealand, their robust defending might allow Canada to have more of the ball. The Canadians haven’t always thrived in that situation. And without the injured Ismael Kone, their creative midfielder, it could be an even greater challenge.
Joshua Kloke
It’s just a footnote now, but Surman’s header to open the scoring was the sixth goal by an MLS player at this World Cup, the most the North American league has ever produced in a single edition of the tournament (2002 was the previous standard bearer, at five). Clearly, it helps that Lionel Messi accounts for half of that total with his hat-trick against Algeria.
But even so, for Surman, the milestone comes as a bit of an oddity.
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In 46 MLS appearances with the Portland Timbers, he hasn’t scored a single goal. But now on the World Cup stage, the athletic defender is on the board.
He’d surely trade that for three points instead of having his side on the cusp of elimination going into Friday’s final group match against Belgium, but it’s a great personal achievement for the Wales-born 22-year-old.
Joshua Kloke
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