Egypt Hold Belgium To 1-1 World Cup Draw In Seattle

SEATTLE (AP): Belgium rescued a 1-1 World Cup draw with Egypt yesterday after Romelu Lukaku's arrival immediately shifted the match in the second half.

Lukaku was introduced in the 66th minute with Belgium down 1-0. Within moments, he charged through the middle and tried to meet a ball played in from the right, but Egypt defender Mohamed Hany got there first and diverted it into his own net.

The equaliser came just 23 seconds after Lukaku stepped onto the field.

Egypt had taken the lead in the 19th minute through Emam Ashour, who registered his first goal for the national team. Ashour, a midfielder making his 30th appearance for Egypt, punished poor Belgian defending to put his side in front for only the second time in a World Cup match.

Egypt are appearing at the World Cup for the fourth time and still have not recorded a win in the competition.

Belgium, who went out in the group stage at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, have now gone three straight World Cup matches without a victory.

Egypt fashioned several chances to widen the margin, but Belgium stayed alive. Lukaku and Kevin De Bruyne also found repeated openings that could have given Belgium the lead.