Lukaku’s introduction earns Belgium 1-1 draw with Egypt
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(Corrects to Ahmed Mostafa “Zizo”, not Mostafa Zico, in paragraph 18)
By Sam Tobin
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.
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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.
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.
Belgium coach Rudi Garcia hailed Lukaku’s instant impact and remained positive, though the draw gives Sunday’s clash against Iran in Los Angeles greater significance.
“We’re still in the competition, foot in the door, but now obviously we have to win against Iran,” he said.
The other two teams in Group G, Iran and New Zealand, meet in Los Angeles later on Monday.
Egypt coach Hossam Hassan saw progress in his side’s performance against a strong team, saying he thought they were the more likely to snatch victory.
“We were the ones who scored the opening goal, and they equalised,” he said. “I believe we were closer to winning — we really were. The chances we created were arguably more in our favour.”
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 and Garcia conceded that Belgium remain reliant on the striker.
“We know how he can be difficult for the opponent and we needed him to come on,” he said.
Lukaku, though, showed his lack of match sharpness when he headed fellow substitute Nicolas Raskin’s cross over the bar from close range with the goal gaping.
Egypt had a late penalty shout in a frantic end to the game, when Ahmed Mostafa “Zizo” went down under contact from Maxim De Cuyper which was waved away by the referee.
Hassan, however, was adamant the decision was incorrect.
“What surprises me is that there was no VAR review and the referee didn’t even consider going back to check it or stopping play,” he said. “That was a 100 per cent penalty. If it had been against us, it would have been given.”
Source: Reuters
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