For Belgium, this tournament is likely the last chance for the remnants of their golden generation to better their third-place finish in Russia eight years ago and finally win silverware.<\/p>\n
Veterans Kevin De Bruyne, Thibaut Courtois and Lukaku are the main protagonists of that group still involved in Rudi Garcia\u2019s squad.<\/p>\n
With all eyes in the Pacific Northwest on Salah and De Bruyne, it was the ex-Manchester City playmaker who created the first moment of note in the match when he dragged a sharp effort narrowly wide in the seventh minute.<\/p>\n
However, it was Ashour who upstaged the pair just before the hydration break when he received the ball in a similar position to De Bruyne, but his sweetly struck effort left Courtois no chance as it whistled into the bottom-right corner.<\/p>\n
It was just the second time in their history that Egypt had taken the lead in a World Cup match \u2013 after Salah opened the scoring in a 2-1 defeat to Saudi Arabia in 2018.<\/p>\n
De Bruyne came within inches of levelling early in the second period when he whipped a close-range free kick over the Egyptian wall, only to see it rocket off the outside of the post.<\/p>\n
Salah responded at the other end as he ghosted into the box but had his downward header punched away by Courtois with Ashour getting his follow-up effort all wrong.<\/p>\n
The match became stretched as both sides came close on a couple of occasions, including a screaming left-footed volley by Belgian captain Youri Tielemans.<\/p>\n
With 65 minutes gone, Garcia decided to send on Lukaku.<\/p>\n
The change immediately paid dividends as Belgium\u2019s all-time top goalscorer showed his predatory instincts to dash in on a Thomas Meunier cross, with his presence enough to destabilise Hany who put it through his own net.<\/p>\n
Salah departed the field with 15 minutes remaining as Egypt sought to shut up shop and ultimately held out for a point.<\/p>\n