Lukaku Off Bench Helps Belgium to Get a Draw vs Egypt
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The Napoli striker came off the bench to force an own goal, securing a 1-1 draw for Belgium.
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Romelu Lukaku came off the bench to rescue a point for Belgium in a tense 1-1 draw against Egypt at the 2026 World Cup.
Egypt Takes the Lead
Egypt took the lead in spectacular fashion when Emam Ashour scored a brilliant opening goal. Egypt, playing in their fourth World Cup tournament, looked poised to secure a historic victory.
Lukaku's Instant Impact
The game changed in the second half when Belgium coach Rudi Garcia made a tactical substitution. He replaced Charles de Ketelaere with Napoli striker Romelu Lukaku.
The decision paid off immediately. Within just 30 seconds of entering the pitch, Lukaku pressured Egypt's Mohamed Hany into scoring an own goal, bringing Belgium level.
While Lukaku missed a late opportunity to win the match, his impact saved Belgium from a disappointing defeat in their opening game. After this strong performance, the striker is expected to start in Belgium's next match against Iran on Sunday.
Egypt's Wait Continues
Despite a brave performance, Egypt is still searching for its first-ever World Cup win. The team made its tournament debut in 1934. Currently, only Bolivia has a longer run without a victory in World Cup history.
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