Lukaku's introduction earns Belgium 1-1 draw with Egypt

15 Jun 2026, 21:34 · CNA · Join

Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group G - Belgium v Egypt - Seattle Stadium, Seattle, Washington, U.S. - June 15, 2026 Belgium's Romelu Lukaku celebrates their first goal, an own goal scored by Egypt's Mohamed Hany REUTERS/Albert Gea

Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group G - Belgium v Egypt - Seattle Stadium, Seattle, Washington, U.S. - June 15, 2026 Egypt's Emam Ashour celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS/Lee Smith

Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group G - Belgium v Egypt - Seattle Stadium, Seattle, Washington, U.S. - June 15, 2026 Belgium's Romelu Lukaku celebrates after Egypt's Mohamed Hany scored an own goal for Belgium's first goal REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian

Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group G - Belgium v Egypt - Seattle Stadium, Seattle, Washington, U.S. - June 15, 2026 Egypt's Emam Ashour scores their first goal REUTERS/Lee Smith

Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group G - Belgium v Egypt - Seattle Stadium, Seattle, Washington, U.S. - June 15, 2026 Belgium's Brandon Mechele in action with Egypt's Hamza Abdelkarim IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters/Blake Dahlin

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SEATTLE, June 15 : Belgium came from behind to draw 1-1 with Egypt in their World Cup opener on Monday, with the second-half introduction of record goalscorer Romelu Lukaku forcing the own goal which salvaged a point for his side.

Egypt opened the scoring against the run of play on 19 minutes through a powerful strike by midfielder Emam Ashour for his first international goal.

Belgium spurned several chances to equalise, Jeremy Doku slicing horribly wide just before the break and Kevin De Bruyne rattling the post from a free kick as Egypt's hopes grew of a first World Cup win at their fourth finals.

But Lukaku, who endured an injury-ravaged season at Italian side Napoli, came on in the 66th minute and some 20 seconds later Belgium were level, with the unfortunate Mohamed Hany turning a dangerous cross into his own net.

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Either side could have won it late on as Egypt were not content to settle for a point, and Lukaku missed a golden opportunity to head the winner with two minutes of regular time remaining.

The other two teams in Group G, Iran and New Zealand, meet in Los Angeles later on Monday.

LUKAKU SAVES BELGIUM'S BLUSHES

Both sides unsurprisingly began cautiously but Belgium soon took control, De Bruyne missing the game's first real chance when he dragged a shot wide from the edge of the box.

Just as they seemed to be gaining the upper hand, though, Egypt took the lead when captain Mo Salah, playing in a deeper central role on his 34th birthday, found Ashour who fired past Thibaut Courtois at full stretch.

Belgium moved through the gears with halftime approaching, but Leandro Trossard totally missed the ball from a cutback by Doku, who should have levelled in added time.

De Bruyne's free kick early in the second half beat goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir but not the post, while Egypt missed chances to extend their lead as Belgium increasingly lived dangerously in pursuit of an equaliser.

The introduction of Lukaku, who played little more than an hour for Napoli this season, ultimately proved the difference, though he showed his lack of match sharpness when, after Shobeir had denied Brandon Mechele, he headed fellow substitute Nicolas Raskin's cross over the bar in a frantic end to the game.

Lukaku's introduction earns Belgium 1-1 draw with Egypt

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