Egypt were denied a first-ever World Cup win after Romelu Lukaku forced an own-goal equaliser just seconds after coming on to rescue a 1-1 draw for Belgium in their Group G opener.
Emam Ashour’s superb 19th-minute opener from distance in the searing Seattle heat gave Egypt their first World Cup half-time lead.
But the seven-time Africa Cup of Nations winners could not hold on to end their 92-year wait for a first victory at the tournament as Belgium’s all-time top scorer Lukaku made an immediate impact off the bench.
Just 22 seconds after coming on, the Napoli striker forced a Mohamed Hany own goal from Thomas Meunier’s cross in the 66th minute.
Egypt’s Emam Ashour (left) celebrates scoring a fine opener
Belgium then nearly completed the turnaround, but Egypt goalkeeper Mostafa Shobier superbly saved Brandon Mechele’s header, while Lukaku headed over a late chance.
An exciting end-to-end contest at Seattle Stadium saw veterans Kevin De Bruyne and Mohamed Salah face off, with both having their moments.
On his 34th birthday, Salah gifted Ashour his fine opener to become the first African player on record (since 1966) to register a World Cup goal involvement on their birthday.
But De Bruyne did his best to spoil the former Liverpool star’s big day as he hit the post with a second-half free-kick before having Belgium’s first shot on target as he sparked the Red Devils into life.
The 34-year-old, though, needed his Napoli team-mate Lukaku to help salvage a point off the bench as Belgium face Iran next while Egypt take on New Zealand.
The key moments from Seattle…
Belgium’s Kevin De Bruyne (left) came close to scoring in Seattle
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20: GOAL! Ashour hammers home a fine opener for his first Egypt goal.
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33: SAVE! Courtois superbly saves Zico’s low shot across goal to deny Egypt a second.
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45+1: MISS! Doku blazes his close-range volley over as Belgium fail to have a shot on target in the first half.
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53: OFF THE POST! De Bruyne hits a free-kick that bends onto the wrong side of the post.
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55: IT SHOULD BE 2-0! Courtois pushes Salah’s header straight to Ashour, but he lashes wide.
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63: BIG CHANCE! De Bruyne has Belgium’s first shot on target but he places it straight at the goalkeeper.
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66: OWN GOAL EQUALISER! Instant impact from Lukaku just 22 seconds forces a Mohamed Hany own goal.
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82: TOP SAVE! Egypt goalkeeper Shobeir denies Mechele’s header at full stretch.
