Lukaku equalises – Romelu Lukaku came on in the 66th minute, and Belgium levelled against Egypt within 23 seconds through an own goal triggered by his run. Emam Ashour had given Egypt the lead in the 19th minute, but Egypt’s missed chances kept the match at 1-1.
Romelu Lukaku’s arrival at the 66th minute changed the tempo instantly. Belgium, trailing Egypt at the World Cup, finally looked like a team that could break through—right down the middle, accelerating into space, and turning pressure into a goal almost before it settled.
When Lukaku tapped in a cross from the right, it should have been the moment the Red Devils grabbed control. Instead, Egypt defender Mohamed Hany intervened—at the wrong time—and scored an own-goal. The equaliser landed only 23 seconds after Lukaku stepped onto the pitch. turning the game on its head at a pace that left Egypt scrambling.
Egypt had gone ahead first. Emam Ashour found the net in the 19th minute with his first international goal. taking advantage of a defensive breakdown to move Egypt ahead for what felt like the kind of start the match might build on. Ashour. a midfielder playing his 30th game for his country. helped Egypt claim only its second World Cup lead—while Belgium’s struggles in the tournament setting a sharper edge around the stakes.
Despite the early advantage, Egypt could not convert their chances into a second goal. They had numerous opportunities to increase their lead but failed to put Belgium away. The match became a series of missed windows. with Lukaku and teammate Kevin De Bruyne both carving out chances that Belgium couldn’t quite turn into the winning margin.
For Egypt, the scoreline means another reminder of where they stand in the World Cup. They are playing in their fourth World Cup and still have never won a game at the tournament. Belgium. for their part. have their own history of frustration in recent World Cup matches. having failed to advance past the group stage at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and not winning any of their last three matches.
Between Ashour’s early strike and Lukaku’s immediate impact off the bench. the result ended exactly where Belgium could hope to breathe again: level at 1-1. But the way Egypt kept missing the moments to finish the job also left a lingering question in the final minutes—because with those chances. the story could have been completely different.
Belgium Egypt Romelu Lukaku Mohamed Hany Emam Ashour Kevin De Bruyne World Cup 1-1 draw own goal
Own goal off Lukaku like literally right after he came on?? Wild.
So he’s blaming the defender for the own goal but also saying Lukaku “triggered” it?? Idk man soccer is confusing. I swear it looked offside on TV.
Lukaku came in and Belgium suddenly wakes up and Egypt just can’t finish… sounds like one of those games where the goalie gets blamed but it’s really nobody can score. Also why was that defender even near it if he knew it was 23 seconds after??
I don’t even follow Belgium like that but De Bruyne always looks like he’s about to do something and then it’s nothing. And Egypt still hasn’t won a World Cup game?? That’s kind of crazy to me, like how have they not figured it out. I guess missed chances really matter, even if it feels like the equalizer was basically instant after Lukaku stepped on the field.