Egypt were only minutes away from making history, but football can be cruel sometimes.
Going into their World Cup opener against Belgium, many people including expected the Europeans to take control of the game. Instead, it was Egypt that looked sharper, more determined, and closer to claiming all three points for most of the match.
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The breakthrough came in the 19th minute when Emam Ashour unleashed a fantastic strike from outside the box. It was one of those goals that instantly gets fans off their seats. The midfielder picked his moment perfectly and gave Egypt a deserved lead after an impressive start.
What made the goal even more special was the contribution of Mohamed Salah. Playing in a more central role than we're used to seeing, Salah showed his quality by helping to create the chance. Throughout the game, he looked comfortable operating behind the attackers, linking play and creating opportunities for his teammates.
Belgium struggled badly in the first half. Despite having world-class players like Kevin De Bruyne and Thibaut Courtois, they could not really trouble the Egyptian defence. In fact, Egypt looked more likely to score a second goal before the break.
The second half followed a similar pattern at first. De Bruyne came close with a free kick that hit the post, but Egypt continued to threaten on the counterattack. There was even a huge chance to make it 2-0, but Ashour could not convert after Courtois had initially denied Salah.
Then came the moment that changed everything.
With Belgium searching for a way back into the game, Romelu Lukaku was introduced from the bench. Amazingly, it took him just 22 seconds to make an impact. A dangerous cross into the box caused confusion, and Mohamed Hany unfortunately turned the ball into his own net while trying to deal with Lukaku's presence.
And Belgium gained confidence from there and pushed hard for a winner. Egypt, however, refused to collapse. Goalkeeper Mostafa Shobier made an outstanding save late on to keep his side in the match, while Lukaku also missed a good opportunity.
In the end, the match finished 1-1, and Egypt's wait for a first World Cup victory continues.
Even so, Egyptian fans should feel encouraged. Their team matched one of Europe's strongest sides, played with confidence, and showed enough quality to believe that first World Cup win could arrive very soon.
Sometimes a draw can feel like a defeat, but this performance proved that Egypt belong on this stage.
Posted Using INLEO