TORONTO - Mohamed Salah produced a captain’s performance as Egypt secured a historic 3-1 comeback victory over New Zealand, earning the Pharaohs their first-ever FIFA World Cup win and strengthening their chances of advancing to the knockout stage. After trailing at halftime, Egypt responded with an inspired second-half display led by Salah, whose influence transformed the contest and lifted his side to the top of Group G with four points from two matches. New Zealand entered the break with a 1-0 advantage after defender Finn Surman rose highest to power home a header from a corner kick. The All Whites looked organized and disciplined throughout the opening period, frustrating the Egyptians and limiting their attacking opportunities. However, Egypt emerged from the interval with renewed intensity. Their pressure paid off in the 58th minute when Mostafa Zico headed in a precise cross from Mohamed Hany to level the score. The momentum quickly shifted in Egypt’s favour, and Salah delivered the decisive moment nine minutes later. Combining brilliantly with Zico in a swift attacking move, the Liverpool star calmly slotted the ball into the far corner to put Egypt ahead. Egypt sealed the victory in the closing stages when substitute Mahmoud Trezeguet headed home from a corner, with Salah providing the assist to cap another influential performance. The final whistle sparked jubilant celebrations among Egyptian supporters, whose passionate backing turned the stadium into a sea of red, white, and black. Head coach Hossam Hassan hailed the achievement as a proud moment for the nation and praised the fans for creating an atmosphere reminiscent of Cairo. Egypt will next face Iran, while New Zealand take on Belgium in a crucial final group-stage encounter. CAPE VERDE STUN URUGUAY WITH GRITTY DRAW AT WORLD CUPCape Verde continued to defy expectations at the FIFA World Cup, producing a spirited performance to secure a 2-2 draw against two-time champions Uruguay in an entertaining Group H encounter. Making their tournament debut, the African nation showed remarkable composure and determination against one of South America’s football powerhouses. Their breakthrough moment arrived in the 21st minute when Kevin Pina etched his name into the history books, firing home a stunning long-range free kick to score Cape Verde’s first-ever goal at World Cup finals. Uruguay responded with authority before halftime. Maxi Araujo levelled the score with a well-taken header before turning provider moments later, setting up Agustin Canobbio to give the South Americans a 2-1 advantage heading into the break. Cape Verde refused to back down and found a deserved equaliser in the second half. Substitute Helio Varela made an immediate impact, capitalizing on a defensive mistake to calmly slot the ball into an empty net just minutes after entering the match. BEIRANVAND’S BRILLIANCE EARNS IRAN VALUABLE DRAW AGAINST BELGIUMAlireza Beiranvand delivered a goalkeeping performance for the ages as Iran battled to a hard-earned 0-0 draw against Belgium in a tense FIFA World Cup Group G encounter, keeping Team Melli firmly in contention for a historic place in the knockout stage. The Iranian goalkeeper emerged as the undisputed star of the match, producing a string of outstanding saves to deny Belgium’s star-studded attack. Beiranvand repeatedly frustrated the Red Devils, including a remarkable reflex stop from close range and another crucial late save that preserved a valuable point for his side. Iran nearly struck first midway through the opening half when Mehdi Taremi found the net following a cleverly worked set piece, but the effort was ruled out for offside after a video review. Belgium dominated possession and generated numerous opportunities, finishing with a flurry of attacks led by Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku. However, the European side failed to convert its chances and suffered a setback when defender Nathan Ngoy was sent off in the 66th minute for denying Taremi a clear scoring opportunity.
Despite playing with a numerical advantage for the final stages, Iran could not find the breakthrough, with Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois also producing several important saves. The result leaves both nations with two points from two matches, setting up a dramatic final round of group-stage fixtures. For Iran, the draw represented more than a single point, it was another display of resilience and determination as the team continues its pursuit of a first-ever appearance in the World Cup knockout rounds.
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