20 seconds after coming on, Lukaku saved Belgium. Why Egypt missed out on a historic first victory

Egypt had their hands on their first-ever World Cup victory.

However, it was Belgium's ace who stopped that dream just before it could be realized.

The result was,

Belgium 1-1 Egypt

In the 19th minute of the first half, Emam Ashour scored his first international goal, giving Egypt the lead.

They entered the second half maintaining that lead.

However, in the second half, just 20 seconds after substitute Romelu Lukaku entered the pitch,

Lukaku dove in front of the goal, and under that pressure, Mohamed Hany scored an own goal, allowing Belgium to equalize.

It was not Lukaku who scored the goal.

Even so, it was undoubtedly Lukaku who changed the game.

Egypt, who came so close to a historic victory.

Belgium, who salvaged a point with a move from the bench.

It was a match where the hopes and challenges of both teams were visible.

The first World Cup victory that Egypt has been chasing

Egypt is a major football power representing Africa.

They have stood at the top of the Africa Cup of Nations many times.

They even have a global star in Mohamed Salah.

Yet, they have never had a victory in the World Cup finals.

Before this match against Belgium, Egypt had led for a total of only 29 minutes in World Cup history.

They had never won a game and had only kept one clean sheet.

There was a huge gap between their achievements domestically and in Africa, and their results on the world stage.

That is why this match against Belgium was so special.

A victory against one of the tournament favorites would open a door that had been closed for a long time.

Egypt entered the match prepared to change history.

🎂 The opening goal created by 34-year-old Salah

19 minutes into the first half.

Egypt broke the deadlock.

The catalyst for the attack was Mohamed Salah, who was celebrating his 34th birthday that day.

He carried the ball on the right flank, drawing in the opposing defense.

He then cut the ball back to Ashour, who had made a run toward the goal.

Ashour controlled the ball with his first touch.

With his second touch, he nutmegged Thomas Meunier.

He then calmly slotted the ball past the onrushing Thibaut Courtois.

Egypt led 1-0.

Salah's composed decision-making.

Ashour's technique.

And the composure in front of the goal.

It was a very well-executed opening goal.

It should not be overlooked that Salah himself did not force a shot, but instead used a teammate in a better position.

Egypt's attack does not end with Salah alone.

This goal demonstrated that.

🌟 An unforgettable first international goal for Ashour

For Ashour, this goal was his first for the national team.

And the stage was the World Cup.

The opponent was Belgium.

The goalkeeper was Courtois, one of the best in the world.

He recorded his first goal on the biggest stage imaginable.

What was impressive about Ashour's play was his lack of hesitation before the shot.

He stops the ball from Salah.

He evades the opponent.

He checks the goalkeeper's position.

And then, he slots it into the open space.

Without using more power than necessary, he made the choice with the highest probability of success based on the situation.

In the World Cup, a single chance can change a nation's history.

Ashour seized that opportunity brilliantly.

🧱 Egypt's defense that troubled Belgium

After taking the lead, Egypt did not force the issue to get a second goal.

They organized their defensive positioning.

They solidified the center.

They did not let Belgium's attacking players play freely in front of the goal.

Including Salah, the front-line players tracked back to defend, and the whole team erased the space.

Belgium is full of highly skilled players.

If you let them have the ball, they will create a decisive chance somewhere.

Even so, Egypt responded without panicking.

The score at the end of the first half was 1-0.

Egypt was closing in on a historic victory, extending their longest lead time in World Cup history.

The reason Belgium struggled

Belgium could not find an outlet for their attacks while in possession of the ball.

Egypt's defensive line was solidifying the center.

Even when Belgium moved the ball, they were met with numbers in areas close to the goal.

Even when sending in crosses from the flanks, they couldn't win the aerial battles in the middle.

Even when stringing short passes together, they couldn't complete the final vertical pass.

The attack lacked intensity.

It was particularly costly that there was no presence up front to push the opposing center-backs back.

Just having possession of the ball doesn't break down a defensive shape.

You need a player who makes the opponent think, 'If we don't defend this area, we're in trouble.'

That was the card Belgium manager Rudi Garcia played: Lukaku.

🔄 Just 20 seconds after Lukaku was subbed on

In the second half, Lukaku enters the pitch.

And about 20 seconds later.

Belgium attacks from the right flank.

Meunier sent a cross toward the goal.

Lukaku runs into the penalty area without hesitation.

Physical strength.

Height.

Finishing ability.

Egypt's defense must not leave Lukaku unmarked.

Feeling that pressure, Hany moves to deal with the ball.

However, the ball they tried to clear slipped past their own goalkeeper and went into their own net.

It was recorded as an own goal.

Belgium equalized to make it 1-1.

Lukaku might not have even touched the ball.

Even so, his presence in front of the goal created hesitation in the defense.

If they didn't touch it first, Lukaku would score.

That anxiety is what caused the own goal.

💪 A player who changes the game without even scoring

Strikers are evaluated by the number of goals they score.

However, Lukaku's value is not just in goals.

Holding off opposing defenders.

Competing in aerial duels.

Pushing back the defensive line.

Diving into crosses and forcing the opponent to make a decision.

The presence of one player changes the mindset of the defense.

Before Lukaku came on, the Egyptian defense was able to react while watching Belgium's passes.

It was different after Lukaku entered the game.

They had to watch not only the ball but also the large striker running toward the goal.

A clear target emerged for Belgium's attack.

It is no coincidence that it led to an equalizer immediately after he was subbed on.

😢 A cruel own goal for Egypt

It was an incredibly harsh moment for Hany.

If he didn't react, the ball would have reached Lukaku behind him.

He had to get a touch on it first.

That decision itself was not wrong.

However, the result was an own goal.

In football, you can make the right decision and still end up with a bad result.

Defensive players are always living side-by-side with such risks.

It should not be dismissed as just one person's mistake.

The fact that the cross was allowed.

The fact that Lukaku was allowed into the front of the goal.

This was a situation created by the team as a whole.

Egypt was pulled back from the brink of their first victory.

⚖️ Is one point a success for Egypt?

Considering the pre-match predictions, taking one point from Belgium is not a bad result.

Title contenders.

World-class squad depth.

High individual ability.

They took the lead against that Belgium side and held it for a long time.

Egypt's defensive strength and the quality of their attack, centered around Salah, were more than capable.

However, considering how the match unfolded, there is a sense of regret.

So close to a historic victory.

They were caught after having the lead.

The Egyptian players might have been thinking more about the two points lost than the one point gained.

Even so, accumulating points is crucial in the World Cup.

Can they carry this draw into the next match?

That is where the real challenge lies.

🧠 Bench work that saved Belgium

After the match, Belgium manager Garcia spoke about the importance of the players who came off the bench.

You cannot win a tournament with just the starting eleven.

The flow of the game is poor.

They cannot break down the opponent's defense.

The attack needed a change.

At times like that, a player off the bench changes the game.

Lukaku's introduction changed the very shape of Belgium's attack.

There was now a purpose to sending crosses into the box.

The opposing defenders were drawn into the center.

Space opened up for the players around him as well.

Belgium could not win.

But they brought a game they could have lost back to a draw.

In a short tournament, this one point can have great significance.

📈 Group G has the potential to be a tight race

Belgium and Egypt started with one point each.

Iran and New Zealand are also in the same group.

Belgium, having failed to take three points in their first match, needs a win in the next game and beyond.

Egypt also wants to build on this in their next match to make this point count.

In the group stage, the more draws there are, the more chaotic the race becomes.

Goal difference.

Total goals scored.

Head-to-head record.

A single goal could determine the final standings.

For Belgium, it was a missed opportunity.

For Egypt, it was a result mixed with hope and frustration.

Group G may not be decided easily.

🔥 History did not change. But it certainly got closer.

Egypt missed out on their first-ever World Cup victory.

However, they did not walk away empty-handed.

They significantly improved upon their previous record of holding a lead for only 29 minutes in total.

Ashour scored his first international goal.

Salah set up the opening goal on his birthday.

The defense held Belgium's attack to just one own goal.

The door to history did not open.

But their hand is on the knob.

Meanwhile, Belgium avoided defeat thanks to Lukaku's presence.

They demonstrated the strength of their bench and squad depth.

Neither team could win.

Even so, there are things to build on for the next match.

Egypt's first victory is no longer a distant dream.

Belgium's real battle starts here as well.

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