Salah's Egypt rattle Belgium, saved by an own goal

On his 34th birthday, Mohamed Salah set up Emam Ashour to open the scoring. But Romelu Lukaku, barely on the pitch, forced an equaliser 28 seconds later. 1-1, and the Pharaohs are still waiting for their first World Cup win.

It was a close call. For the very first World Cup match played in Seattle, Egypt, led by an Mohamed Salah inspired on his 34th birthday, long gave Belgium a run for their money. Trailing on the scoreboard, the Red Devils owe their salvation to nothing but an own goal induced by Romelu Lukaku, barely on the pitch. 1-1: a precious yet frustrating point for a Pharaohs side still without a single win in four World Cup appearances.

Ashour strikes, Lukaku replies in 28 seconds

Egypt did not waver. After a quarter of an hour of feeling each other out, the Pharaohs struck in the 19^th minute: from a clean ball by Salah, who had moved into a central role, Emam Ashour turned and fired a crisp 20-yard shot into the bottom corner past Thibaut Courtois. Better still: Egypt could have doubled the lead, but Mostafa Zico was denied by a magnificent Courtois, while Belgium failed to hit the target with any of their eight first-half attempts.

Everything shifted shortly after the hour mark. While Kevin De Bruyne had struck the post from a free kick, it was the introduction of Romelu Lukaku that changed everything: 28 seconds after stepping onto the turf, the striker forced an own goal from Mohamed Hany. Belgium then pushed for the win but ran into a decisive Mostafa Shobeir, before Lukaku missed the match-winner with a header over the bar.

The Red Devils against Salah's Pharaohs

On one side, Belgium: the Red Devils, long carried by their golden generation and still led by Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku and Thibaut Courtois, now managed by Rudi Garcia. On the other, Egypt: seven-time African champions, back at the World Cup after missing out in 2022, led by their star Mohamed Salah and goalscorer Omar Marmoush, under the guidance of a legend, Hossam Hassan.

A prestige clash to open Group G, and at the same time to launch the story of world football in Seattle, a host city for the first time.

Egyptian frustration, Belgian relief

At the final whistle, the feelings were the reverse of the predictions: disappointment on the Egyptian side, relief on the Belgian side. The Pharaohs, dominant and threatening with two clear chances to go 2-0, leave frustrated at having taken only a point. Belgium, for their part, delivered a shaky performance: their equaliser, an own goal, ended a 325-minute goal drought at the World Cup without actually scoring a genuine goal.

A Group G of rare uncertainty

As in Group H earlier, the four teams in Group G find themselves level on one point: in the other match, Iran and New Zealand served up a spectacular 2-2 in Los Angeles. Everything remains open. Matchday 2^th will see Belgium take on Iran and Egypt face New Zealand, a chance for the Pharaohs to finally chase down that first World Cup win.

Egypt leave with a point and a taste of unfinished business; Belgium, with a point and a lot of questions. For the Pharaohs, the first World Cup win will have to wait a while longer, but the face glimpsed in Seattle already looks like a promise.