SEATTLE — Egypt will have to wait a little longer for its first World Cup win. Despite going up early against Belgium to kick off Group G play, the Red Devils were able to snatch back an equalizer against the Pharaohs after forcing an own goal in the second half.
Monday afternoon’s game marked the first World Cup match in Seattle Stadium (normally Lumen Field), with the matchup setting up a packed, red-decked crowd — the color of both team’s primary jerseys.
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Eye test-wise, more of those red dots were Belgian fans. But the Egyptians were louder — and that was before Emam Ashour gave Egypt a 1-0 lead with a blast from outside the box in the 20th minute.
That unlocked something in the Egyptian fans in the crowd, who were overjoyed about going up early against an European giant. Belgium’s attack kept going throughout the end of the first half and into the second, but kept falling just short of a goal.
As it turns out, that last push came in the form of Romelu Lukaku, who subbed into the game in the 66th minute and forced an own goal from Mohamed Hany 20 seconds later.
The final minutes of the matchup remained intense, with both teams swapping momentum. But the defenses, and the goalkeepers, held strong on both ends, ending the game level at 1-1.
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It’s not quite the result either team wanted, but it’s a draw indicative of what will likely be the toughest matchup of the group. Belgium and Egypt are the clear favorites to go one-two in the group, with Iran and New Zealand set to play later Monday in Los Angeles. But there’s pride on the line for both teams this summer.
Heading into this tournament, Egypt had a lot to prove. This summer is seen by many as a last chance for superstar forward Mo Salah, who, after turning 34 years old Monday, is less likely to still be leading the team in four years. And across four World Cup appearances, Egypt has never notched a win in the group stage — and will have to keep waiting for now.
For Belgium, the Red Devils are two World Cup cycles removed from a third-place finish, but got grouped in Qatar. This summer offers a chance at redemption, and Monday’s stolen draw — while not quite as good as a win — marks the start of that journey.
Postgame, Belgian midfielder Youri Tielemans praised the Seattle crowd, as well as the Red Devils’ stay in nearby Renton, where the team’s base camp is located. He also noted that the pitch’s “quality was really good,” a boost for the much-talked about semi-permanent grass surface.
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Tielemans also said that the team still has work to do, specifically noting the team’s struggles in transition.
“I think our biggest challenge was about us,” he said. “We were too static, especially in the first half and then second half we created some chances which we could’ve won the game but they had some chances as well.”
Next up for the Red Devils is a match against Iran, while Egypt will next face off against New Zealand. Both games offer a clear opportunity to earn three crucial points.
