By Sachit Subba • Football • Jun 16, 2026 05:40 AM • 62 views
SEATTLE — In twenty seconds, Romelu Lukaku changed Group G’s outlook and averted disaster for Belgium.
After enduring a gruelling, injury-plagued club campaign with Napoli that limited him to barely an hour of competitive football all season, Belgium's all-time top scorer finally made his entrance in the 66th minute. The moment Lukaku stepped off the bench, he instantly altered the match’s momentum. Within moments, the powerhouse forward forced the panicked Egyptian defence into catastrophic error. A wicked, probing delivery flashed across the six-yard box, and the unfortunate Mohamed Hany could only turn the ball into his own net, cancelling out Emam Ashour’s stunning first-half opener and securing a frantic 1-1 draw for Belgium.
For Egypt, aiming for a first World Cup finals victory at their fourth tournament appearance, it was a disappointing result. For Belgium manager Rudi Garcia, it reinforced his team's dependence on their experienced number nine.
A Birthday Blueprint and a Shock Lead
The tactical narrative of the afternoon first belonged to Egypt coach Hossam Hassan, who deployed Mohamed Salah in an unfamiliar, deeper central playmaker role. Celebrating his 34th birthday, the Pharaohs' talisman pulled the strings from midfield and, as a result, neutralised Belgium’s early territorial dominance.
Kevin De Bruyne shot wide early, but Egypt struck in the 19th minute. Salah found Ashour in space, who scored with a powerful shot, giving Egypt a historic lead.
The shock opener rattled Belgium and exposed their lack of cutting edge. Garcia’s men increased their pressure before halftime, but wastefulness and poor finishing kept them scoreless. Trossard missed a golden chance set up by Doku, who then sliced another opportunity wide in stoppage time.
Tensions Flare Amid Missed Chances and VAR Controversy
The second half continued at a frantic pace. De Bruyne nearly equalised with a curling free-kick, but his shot beat Mostafa Shobeir and struck the woodwork. Egypt then wasted several counter-attacks to double the lead, giving Lukaku a chance for a dramatic intervention.
Despite scoring, Lukaku’s rust showed when he headed over late from Raskin’s cross.
When the final whistle blew, the drama continued off the pitch. Egypt were left furious over a late penalty claim after Ahmed Mostafa "Zizo" went down in the box under a heavy challenge from Maxim De Cuyper. However, the referee waved away the frantic appeals—a decision that left Hassan incandescent on the touchline.
"What surprises me is that there was no VAR review and the referee didn't even consider going back to check it or stopping play," Hassan fumed. "That was a 100% penalty. If it had been against us, it would have been given."
Despite the refereeing controversy, Hassan reflected on the broader context, noting that Egypt showed they can compete at the World Cup. "We were the ones who scored the opening goal, and they equalised," Hassan added. "I believe we were closer to winning — we really were. The chances we created were arguably more in our favour."
Both teams now have one point ahead of Iran vs New Zealand in Los Angeles. For Belgium, the draw raises the stakes for Sunday’s match against Iran.
"We're still in the competition, foot in the door," Garcia admitted, "but now obviously we have to win against Iran."
