Match Overview
Egypt's 92-year wait for a first victory at the World Cup continued in agonising fashion as Belgium snatched a 1-1 draw in their Group G opener in Seattle. Emam Ashour's stunning first-half strike had the seven-time Africa Cup of Nations winners on course for a landmark result, but Romelu Lukaku needed just 22 seconds after coming off the bench to force the equaliser, with Mohamed Hany turning Thomas Meunier's cross into his own net.
The searing Seattle heat did nothing to dampen an enthralling contest that saw two of the game's modern greats, Mohamed Salah and Kevin De Bruyne, go head-to-head. On his 34th birthday, Salah dazzled in an unfamiliar No. 10 role, creating Ashour's opener and becoming the first African player on record (since 1966) to register a World Cup goal involvement on their birthday. De Bruyne, however, sparked Belgium into life after the break, hitting the post with a free-kick and forcing the first save from Egypt's goalkeeper before Lukaku's decisive intervention.
Key Moments
20' - GOAL! Emam Ashour hammered home a superb opener from distance after being set up by Salah, giving Egypt a deserved lead.
33' - SAVE! Thibaut Courtois superbly denied Mostafa Zico's low drive to keep Belgium in the match.
45+1' - MISS! Jérémy Doku blazed a close-range volley over as Belgium failed to register a shot on target in the first half.
53' - OFF THE POST! De Bruyne curled a free-kick against the wrong side of the upright.
55' - CHANCE! Courtois pushed Salah's header straight to Ashour, but the midfielder lashed wide with the goal gaping.
63' - BIG CHANCE! De Bruyne finally tested the goalkeeper with Belgium's first shot on target, but it was straight at Mostafa Shobier.
66' - OWN GOAL EQUALISER! Just 22 seconds after entering the fray, Lukaku's presence forced Hany to deflect Meunier's cross past his own keeper.
82' - TOP SAVE! Shobier acrobatically turned away Brandon Mechele's header to preserve the draw.
Salah as a No. 10: A Tactical Revelation?
Egypt coach Hossam Hassan's decision to deploy Salah as a central playmaker paid dividends, with the Liverpool icon pulling the strings and creating the opening goal. The move also accommodated Mostafa Zico's energy down the right flank, offering a blueprint that may intrigue Salah's club managers past and present.
"By bringing him inside, Egypt boss Hossam Hassan retained Salah's attacking threat — he found Emam Ashour to score their goal — and was also able to include Mostafa Zico to offer energy up and down the right flank," noted Sky Sports' Peter Smith.
Too often under Arne Slot at Liverpool last season, Salah appeared isolated in wide areas, with his numbers suffering as a result. At 34, his capacity for high-intensity bursts may be diminishing, but his vision, technique and experience remain elite. Against Belgium, he topped Egypt's charts for chances created, passing accuracy and fouls won, illustrating how a more central role could prolong his impact at the highest level.
Post-Match Reaction
Belgium head coach Rudi Garcia acknowledged the difficulty of the fixture while praising the contribution of his bench.
"The opening match of a competition like the World Cup is always a tough one, especially against one of Africa's top teams like Egypt. We managed to equalise thanks to a player who came off the bench, which shows just how important the whole squad is," Garcia said.
Despite the disappointment, Egypt can take confidence from a performance that suggested their wait for a first World Cup win will soon end. With group games against New Zealand and Iran to come, Hassan's side will fancy their chances of progressing to the knockout stage for the first time.
Key Takeaways
- Lukaku's super-sub act: The Napoli striker's instant impact rescued a point and underlined his enduring value to the Red Devils.
- Salah's central role: The experiment of using Salah as a No. 10 worked well, offering a template for Egypt's remaining group games.
- Belgium's slow start: The Red Devils failed to register a shot on target in the first half and needed a slice of fortune to earn a draw.
- Egypt's defensive resilience: Goalkeeper Mostafa Shobier made crucial late saves to ensure a share of the spoils.
- Group G wide open: With both sides likely to improve, the battle for the knockout spots remains finely poised.
Quick Facts
Final Score: Belgium 1–1 Egypt
Goals: Emam Ashour (19'), Mohamed Hany OG (66')
Attendance: 68,743 at Seattle Stadium
Man of the Match: Mohamed Salah (Egypt)
Lukaku Impact: Own goal forced 22 seconds after coming on
Report sourced from Sky Sports.