Mohamed Salah scored and assisted as Egypt came from behind to beat New Zealand 3-1, securing their first-ever FIFA World Cup victory.

What happened?

The match began with New Zealand striking first, defender Finn Surman heading in Tim Payne's corner to take an early lead.

Egypt enjoyed spells of possession but struggled to convert their chances before halftime, with Salah coming closest when a curling effort drifted narrowly wide of the target.

Turning the game around

Whatever was said in the Egyptian dressing room during the interval worked wonders, as the Pharaohs emerged with renewed energy and purpose, pinning New Zealand back inside their own half.

Mostafa Zico found space inside the box and powered home a crucial equaliser, shifting momentum firmly on Egypt's side.

A defining moment

The game's defining moment arrived minutes later, as Zico and Mohamed Salah combined brilliantly, exchanging passes before the Liverpool superstar calmly slotted the ball beyond goalkeeper Max Crocombe.

Salah's 68th international goal sent the Egyptian supporters into celebration and moved him within touching distance of Hossam Hassan's national scoring record.

Egypt were not done yet, as Trezeguet met a perfectly delivered ball with a diving header to make it 3-1 and put the result beyond doubt.

Knockout stage dreams

The victory lifts Egypt to the top of Group G, placing qualification for the knockout stages firmly in their own hands, with a draw against Iran in their final group-stage fixture enough to continue their historic campaign.

And with this win, Egypt need at least a draw against Iran to reach the knockout stage.

But for New Zealand, the result was another painful reminder of missed opportunities.

So the Pharaohs will look to build on this momentum, led by Salah's brilliance and inspired by a dominant second-half display.

The Pharaohs finally secured the World Cup victory their supporters had dreamed about for decades, with Salah at the forefront.

As the final whistle blew, Egyptian football witnessed a landmark moment, one that will be remembered for years to come.