Belgium has held Egypt to a 1-1 draw in their first World Cup match after trailing in the first half.
Egypt’s coach Hossam Hassan opted to play Mohamed Salah centrally on the legend’s 34th birthday, and the move worked out brilliantly from the outset.
After drawing an early yellow card on Belgium, Salah then delivered a clinical pass to Ashour on the edge of the defence.
Ashour used his first touch to set up the shot with his right foot, which he struck at 21 mph and buried in the lower left corner of the net past the outstretched right arm of Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
The 19th-minute strike just before the hydration break was the first for Ashour in his 30th appearance for Egypt.
Courtois would later make an excellent save diving in the same direction off a shot from Mostafa Zico in the 33rd minute. Egypt put both of their first-half shots on frame, while Belgium failed to test Egypt goalkeeper Mostafa Shoubir with any of their eight attempts.
Belgium repeatedly attacked from the edges in the first half but were unable to effectively threaten Shoubir.
