Salah fires wide as Egypt try to find a way back
Egypt have a free kick at the edge of New Zealand’s 18-yard box. It’s a training-ground play: Omar Marmoush lays it off for Salah, who hits it with the side of his foot but pushes it wide to the left.
Moments later Hamdi Fathi goes down, and the medical staff are on the pitch. He’s unable to continue, and the centre-back is substituted for Rami Rabia before half-time.
Egypt have another chance in stoppage time. Eman Ashour sticks out his foot as a cross from the right comes in on the New Zealand eight-yard box but he does not hit it cleanly and it rolls off for a goal kick.
That’s half-time at BC Place and New Zealand will be thrilled with that first 45. Egypt have improved as the half has gone on but the All Whites seem to have all the answers. Their 1-0 lead has them top of Group G for now.
New Zealand 1-0 Egypt, half-time
In pictures: Surman heads New Zealand into the lead
Egypt thankful for the hydration break
Egypt will be happy to have a moment to collect themselves. Hossam Hassan’s side have not offered much in attack here, especially after going behind. Possession is split evenly but the All Whites have looked far more threatening.
Egypt have started this “second quarter” looking much sharper but New Zealand are still in control here.
New Zealand 1-0 Egypt, 33 minutes
GOAL! All Whites with the early lead
New Zealand have the lead after a well-taken header by centre-half Finn Surman from a corner.
He’s left unmarked in the six-yard box and gets good contact on Tim Payne’s corner kick, off his head and into the back of the net. The New Zealand fans inside the stadium enjoyed that one. It’s a promising start.
New Zealand 1-0 Egypt, 15 minutes
The teams: New Zealand v Egypt
The fourth and final match of the day is upon us now as two teams continue their search for their first World Cup win, at BC Place.
The All Whites almost made it happen against Iran – twice – but for two equalisers that left them with a 2-2 draw, while Egypt led against Belgium before super-sub Romelu Lukaku forced an own goal.
The starting line-ups are the same for both sides. And why wouldn’t they be?
New Zealand: Max Crocombe; Liberato Cacace, Finn Surman, Michael Boxall, Tim Payne; Joe Bell, Marko Stamenic; Eli Just, Sarpreet Singh, Callum McCowatt; Chris Wood
Egypt: Shobeir; Hany, Fathy, Ibrahim, Fattouh; Lasheen, Attia; Salah, Ashour, Ziko; Marmoush
‘Out of hand’: Paraguay coach vents at World Cup’s business elite
- Paraguay face Australia on Friday in decisive Group D match
- Coach says soaring travel and ticket costs were keeping many Paraguay fans away
- Says hydration breaks had become commercial breaks that disrupted matches
Paraguay’s outspoken coach Gustavo Alfaro has taken aim at football’s business elites, accusing them of commercial intrusion on the World Cup and sidelining fans with exorbitant ticket costs in a sport that has its roots in poverty.
In unscheduled remarks to media during a training session, Alfaro promised his team would do everything to reach the next round and hoped more fans from Paraguay could travel to support them, alongside a diaspora who had turned out so far.
“People I know are having a very hard time because travelling these days is very difficult, very expensive, the World Cups are blown out of proportion, the costs, everything else, and that’s why sometimes you understand the sacrifice people make to pay for a ticket,” he said.
Lose, draw or win: What the Socceroos need to advance at the World Cup
San Francisco: The Socceroos have returned to their training base in Oakland after a disappointing 2-0 loss to the United States but with their World Cup fate still very much in their own hands.
With Paraguay beating Turkey, Australia will enter the final group game at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara knowing what they need to do to make it through to the knockout stages. The final-round matches for Group D feature the US playing Turkey at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, kicking off at midday on Friday (AEST), at the same time the Socceroos play Paraguay.
This is what each potential result would mean for the Socceroos’ chances of progressing to the round of 32.
Sorry to be a tease but all you need to do is click this link for all the possible outcomes.
This wasn’t as strong a showing from Vozinha
But there’s still reason to celebrate.
The Group H standings
Full-time: Uruguay 2-2 Cape Verde
This was kitchen-sink stuff from both sides, and a thoroughly thrilling encounter to watch. It’s another draw for Cape Verde that will feel like another win. Because they have their first two World Cup goals and their second World Cup point. They held Spain. Now they have held Uruguay. There were four yellow cards, plenty of niggle, defensive mistakes and attacking ascensions. What more do you want?
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: www.smh.com.au
