In
the end, Egypt were too good, too fast and too slick. They fully deserved their 3-1 win, which showed the gulf between the two nations, with a ranking disparity of almost 60 places.
But that scoreline doesn’t reflect just how close this match was; how much the contest hung in the balance, how New Zealand wondered if it was their day.
The All Whites had taken the lead through Finn Surman in the 15th minute, stunning the massed Egyptian support.
They were good value for the advantage in an even first half, before Egypt took control in the last half hour, with two goals in the space of nine minutes to Mostafa Ziko and Mohamed Salah.
Salah’s will be debated for some time, as the referee had ignored a clear foul on Ben Old, which allowed the Egyptian breakaway.
It was the brave effort from the All Whites, who played some sumptuous football in the first half. But they couldn’t maintain it – with the physical exertions. Coach Darren Bazeley’s selections will come under the microscope, with some starters not justifying the faith shown in them. There was also a chance to make earlier replacements, while New Zealand were still 1-0 ahead.
The All Whites’ hopes of advancing now hang by a thread, with a game against group heavyweights Belgium to come.
It will make for a bitter few days, given how promising things had looked in the first half.
Inside a capacity BC Place stadium – with more than 52,000 – it felt more like an Egyptian bazaar, with stifling heat and constant noise, though the New Zealand support had made their presence felt, with an inspiring pre-match march to the venue.
And – after an action-packed start – the All Whites had another magic moment,
The goal was a stunner. Not just the greatest moment of Finn Surman’s life but the greatest moment of any footballer’s life. His run was clever – around the back to escape a marker but it was the leap that made it happen, as he hung in the air for an eternity – like a basketballer – then thumped the header home, from a perfect Tim Payne delivery. Surman then landed in slight disbelief – “Did I just do that?” – before sprinting away to celebrate with his teammates.
Things had been building for New Zealand. Sarpreet Singh volleyed wide – after Wood’s great layoff into Libby Cacace following an Elijah Just break. Then Marko Stamenic burst through, riding two challenges, to release Just, who tested the keeper from a narrow angle but should have cut back to an open Wood.
The intensity was building, the tackling more intense, before Cacace was away, this time forcing a strong block from Mostafa Shoubir at his near post. Egypt were threatening on the counter but looked rattled and the first hydration break came at a good time for them.
Surman was everywhere, stifling the threat of Omar Marmoush, who is valued at around $100 million on the open market, while Michael Boxall and Cacace did well to shut down Salah.
Salah also put a free kick wide – the decision looked soft, while Singh was booked for grappling.
Egypt dominated the final 10 minutes of the half but couldn’t find the final ball, as the New Zealand defenders were invariably where they needed to be. But the free kicks were tallying up, though Marmoush was lucky to get away with an elbow on a prone Surman.
A weird silence descended around the capacity stadium at halftime – as the tension hung in the air. Could the All Whites hold on? It was going to be difficult, given the physical exertions. That was apparent after 34 seconds, when Max Crocombe got down well to save from Salah, who didn’t connect cleanly with his right foot. It was a warning and the All Whites withstood early pressure, struggling to get on the ball. But then a moment, as McCowatt nipped in, from a lofted Stamenic ball, with his flicked header tipped over.
But the pressure was building and New Zealand had sat deep for too long, tempting fate. There was a warning – with a Surman block to deny Ziko after a neat cross – before the goal from the same player. It was almost a replica of the second conceded against Iran, with a whipped cross from the right and Ziko unmarked at the far post. The review won’t be pretty watching, as Cacace and Just failed to shut down the delivery and the defenders were caught ball-watching.
Then came the flashpoint of the half; substitute Old was taken down but referee Omar Al Ali waved play on, to the bemusement of the All Whites. They didn’t recover well – as they were completely stretched – and Salah had his moment of magic, taking a return pass inside the area before sliding home neatly. Wood remonstrated with the referee, who was never going to review after too many phases, but it was undoubtedly a match-turning call.
With 15 minutes to play, Ryan Thomas came on for Cacace, while Jesse Randall replaced Singh, but it felt like the substitutions were perhaps too late.
That was confirmed minutes later, with Egypt’s devastating third goal, as the All Whites got their defensive organisation all wrong at the near post and Mahmoud Trezeguet was unmarked to direct his header home.
With eight minutes to go, that was the killer blow, with no recovery from there, though Crocombe made a wondrous save on his goal line to deny a fourth and the All Whites went close to a late consolation from a corner.
All Whites 1 (Finn Surman 15’)
Egypt 3 (Mostafa Ziko 58’, Mohamed Salah 67, Mahmoud Trezeguet 82)
HT: 1-0
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