In brief
- Egypt unleashed on New Zealand in the second half and Spain thrashed Saudi Arabia 4-0.
- Cape Verde's dream World Cup run continues with another spirited performance against Uruguay.
Egypt earned their first World Cup win in its history by beating New Zealand 3-1 on Monday, putting The Pharaohs on track to reach the knockout round for the first time.
Mohamed Salah, Mostafa Zico and Trézéguet were Egypt's scorers after Finn Surman gave New Zealand the lead 15 minutes into the Group G match in Vancouver.
The victory puts Egypt top of Group G on four points and needing just a draw against Iran in Seattle on Friday to move into the last 32.
The goal gave New Zealand a needed lift, holding Egypt at bay until Salah exchanged passes with Zico — named after the Brazilian legend — and then curled in a shot with his left foot in the 67th minute.
Salah then provided the assist for substitute Trézéguet — who himself is named after former France forward David Trezeguet — to make the game safe with a low header.
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"In years to come we will remember that this was one of the achievements in history," Salah said.
He praised the large Egyptian contingent in the crowd, saying: "It feels like we are playing in Egypt. It's a great win and great vibe."
Egypt had trailed the Kiwis, who opened the scoring through Surman's towering header after 15 minutes.
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But Zico equalised when he headed in a cross from Mohamed Hany.
New Zealand will now face Belgium in Vancouver on Friday.
Cape Verde in dreamland
Cape Verde's dream World Cup debut continued on Monday as the team scored a second-half equaliser to salvage a 2-2 draw against Uruguay in Miami, backing up their shock opening stalemate with Spain.
Cape Verde took a surprise 21st-minute lead as Kevin Pina scored their first World Cup goal from a free-kick, only for Uruguay to strike twice shortly before half-time through Maximiliano Araujo and Agustín Canobbio.
But 40-year-old Uruguay goalkeeper Fernando Muslera's mistake allowed Hélio Varela to grab Cape Verde's second just after the hour mark and neither side could find a winner despite pushing hard in the final stages.
Cape Verde's second draw of the tournament boosted their hopes of reaching the knockout phase from Group H.
The African island nation faces Saudi Arabia, thumped 4-0 by Spain earlier on Monday, in their final group game on Sunday, knowing victory would secure a last-32 berth.
Two-time world champions Uruguay's hopes of progressing are in serious danger, though, after again being held by lower-ranked opposition after their 1-1 draw with the Saudis.
The South Americans may need to beat European champions Spain next weekend to avoid a second consecutive World Cup group-stage exit.
Cape Verde started with more intent going forward than they were able to show against Spain, but it was still Uruguay who created the first real opening when Federico Valverde drilled a left-footed shot wide.
But the tournament debutants forged ahead when Pina crashed a long-range free-kick through a poor Uruguay wall and past Muslera.
Uruguay were in desperate need of their equaliser when it arrived in the 44th minute.
Sidney Lopes Cabral headed the ball against his own post under pressure from Rodrigo Bentancur, and Araujo stooped to nod in the rebound with Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha stranded.
They completed the turnaround in the sixth minute of first-half added time, as Canobbio turned in Araujo's header across goal on the volley.
Uruguay appeared in control early in the second half until Muslera inexplicably raced out of his goal in the 61st minute and Cape Verde substitute Varela took full advantage to roll the ball into an empty net after an excellent first touch.
Iran frustrates Belgium with stout defence
Ten-man Belgium were held to a 0-0 draw by Iran in their World Cup Group G match in Los Angeles on Monday, failing to break through Iran's resilient defence.
Boosted by an LA crowd largely in their corner, Iran repelled waves of attacks to share the points, with goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand making seven saves on a mostly sunny day in southern California.
In a frustrating game where they dominated possession, Belgium were reduced to 10 men after Nathan Ngoy was shown a red card for hauling down Mehdi Taremi, who was through on goal, in the second half.
A star-studded though ageing lineup, including Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku, was, if anything, fortunate to leave Los Angeles with a point, controlling possession yet ceding the game's best chances to a resolute Iran team.
Iran's Mehdi Taremi had the ball in the net from a well-worked first-half free kick that was overturned for offside by VAR.
Target man Lukaku, back in the starting lineup after making an impact from the bench in Belgium's 1-1 draw with Egypt, managed a solitary headed effort in the 36th minute, which sailed over the bar.
Iran had the first half's two best chances, entirely against the run of play. Hossein Kanani's low shot after a long throw was well saved by an outstretched Thibaut Courtois.
After the break, Belgium continued to huff and puff while Taremi again nearly scored at the other end. Courtois did well to save after Kanani had flicked on a long throw to the Iran forward.
The result means all three games so far in Group G have ended in draws. Stuck on two points, Belgium will play the tournament's lowest-ranked team, New Zealand, in their final group game.
Iran will also need at least a point against Egypt next Saturday AEST. Having been frustrated by visa issues while travelling from their base camp in Mexico to games in the US, Team Melli will hope to focus on the football as travel restrictions are reportedly easing for their crucial trip to Seattle.
Lamine Yamal shines as Spain thrashing Saudi Arabia
Lamine Yamal made a goalscoring return for Spain as the European champions got their World Cup campaign back on track with a 4-0 drubbing of Saudi Arabia on Monday.
Yamal, 18, opened the scoring after just 10 minutes of the Group H game in Atlanta to put La Roja on course for a comfortable victory against an outclassed Saudi team.
Spain had been determined to bounce back after being held to a shock 0-0 draw by lowly Cape Verde in their opening game last week, when their much-vaunted attack drew a blank.
But with teenage starlet Yamal making his first start in two months since recovering from a hamstring problem, Spain launched an early onslaught that left the Saudis reeling.
Yamal ghosted in at the back post to tuck away Mikel Oyarzabal's low cross before Oyarzabal scored twice in three minutes to leave Spain 3-0 up after just 24 minutes.
Spain bagged their fourth goal on 49 minutes, when Marc Cucurella's shot was saved by Saudi goalkeeper Mohammed al-Owais only to bounce off defender Hassan al-Tambakti into the net.
"We had to recover good feelings, correct a few things from the last game, but we need to keep improving if we want to achieve our target of getting to the final on July 19," Spain coach Luis De la Fuente said afterwards.
The win leaves Spain on top of Group H with four points after two matches.
— With reporting by Agence France-Presse and Reuters news agencies.
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