Belgium held to 1-1 draw by Egypt
The 20-yard strike came after a precise pass from Mohamed Salah, who was celebrating his 34th birthday.
KATHMANDU: FIFA World Cup title contender Belgium was forced to settle for a 1-1 draw against Egypt in the opening Group G match at Seattle Stadium on Tuesday.
Egypt stunned Belgium by taking the lead in the 19th minute through midfielder Emam Ashour, who marked his 30th international appearance with his first goal for the national team.
The 20-yard strike came after a precise pass from Mohamed Salah, who was celebrating his 34th birthday.
Ashour controlled the ball brilliantly with his first touch before firing a right-footed shot into the bottom-left corner, beyond the reach of Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan deployed Salah in a central attacking role, a tactical move that paid dividends early on. Egypt managed to put both of their first-half attempts on target, while Belgium failed to test goalkeeper Mostafa Shobier despite registering eight shots.
Courtois produced an excellent diving save in the 33rd minute to deny Mostafa Zico, keeping Belgium within reach before halftime.
Belgium emerged with greater urgency after the break but continued to struggle to break down Egypt’s disciplined defense. Courtois was called into action again in the 55th minute, making a superb save to stop Salah’s header, while Omar Marmoush later saw his effort deflected wide.
The turning point came in the 66th minute when Belgium introduced striker Romelu Lukaku in search of more attacking power. Just 28 seconds after entering the match, Lukaku made an immediate impact.
A cross from Thomas Meunier caused chaos inside the Egyptian penalty area, and as Lukaku charged between two defenders, the ball deflected off defender Ahmed Hany and into his own net for an unfortunate own goal.
Both sides pushed for a winner in the closing stages, but neither could find the decisive breakthrough. Egypt’s attacking threat diminished after Salah was substituted in the 75th minute, and the match ultimately ended in a hard-fought 1-1 draw.
The result leaves Group G finely balanced as both teams begin their World Cup campaign with a point.
