Egypt's quest for a maiden World Cup victory slipped away in Seattle on Wednesday night. Romelu Lukaku's dramatic intervention off the bench earned Belgium a 1-1 draw in their Group G opener.
Emam Ashour had put Egypt ahead in the first half with a clinical finish. The North Africans controlled much of the match and appeared destined for a historic win.
Everything changed when Lukaku entered the fray in the second period. Moments after his introduction, his presence forced Mohamed Hany into an own goal that restored parity for the Belgians.
It was a cruel ending for Egypt, who'd shown discipline and quality throughout. Coach Rudi Garcia noted how important squad depth proved crucial.
"We managed to equalise thanks to a player who came off the bench, which shows just how important the whole squad is," he said.
For Egypt, the disappointment stings more than most. They've now played four World Cups without a single victory to their name.
Hamza Abdelkarim, Egypt's 18-year-old Barcelona forward, struck a measured tone after the match. "We know Belgium are a good team; they have good quality players, but we can't say it was the hardest game or easiest game," he told reporters.
"Every game for us has got to be three points."
Egypt still face Iran and New Zealand in Group G. They'll hope those fixtures offer better fortune than this one.
Belgium's result extends their winless streak at the World Cup to three consecutive matches. Their last victory at the tournament came during their 2018 run to the semi-finals.
Many see this tournament as the final realistic chance for their so-called golden generation. Stars like Kevin De Bruyne, Thibaut Courtois and Lukaku have yet to capture major international honours.
Garcia acknowledged the challenge ahead. "We know the opening match of a competition like the World Cup is always a tough one, especially against one of Africa's top teams," the Belgian coach noted.
Belgium travel to Los Angeles to face Iran on Sunday. Egypt head to Vancouver to play New Zealand on Monday.
