RIYADH: Romelu Lukaku will not be a popular figure in Egypt tonight. His quick-fire equalizer, officially recorded as a Mohammed Hany own goal, came just eight seconds after his introduction and denied the Pharaohs what would have been their first-ever World Cup victory, extending a wait that now stretches to 92 years.
Belgium and Egypt played out a 1-1 draw at Lumen Field in Seattle, in a match that saw the Pharaohs frustrate and outplay the Red Devils for more than an hour before momentum shifted following the equalizer.
While the result may feel disappointing given the way the match unfolded, few Egyptian fans would have turned down a draw before kickoff. Egypt took a point from the highest-ranked side in the group, even if they were left wondering what might have been.
The encounter began cautiously. Egypt enjoyed more of the ball, looking for combinations between Emam Ashour, Omar Marmoush and Mohamed Salah to break through the disciplined Belgian defence.
A light man-to-man press was all Rudi Garcia instructed his side to employ under the shining Seattle sun, and it almost paid off in the sixth minute when Kevin De Bruyne received the ball outside of the box. His effort narrolwy curled past Mostafa Shoubir’s post, but otherwise the early momentum belonged to Egypt.
