Belgium held by Iran as Lukaku misfires and Ngoy sees red

In what was supposed to be a comfortable outing for Belgium, the Red Devils found themselves grinding out a disappointing draw against Iran. With Romelu Lukaku showing signs of rust and young defender Nathan Ngoy seeing red, it was left to Thibaut Courtois to preserve a point with a series of world-class saves.

What happened

Belgium started brightly but quickly lost their rhythm. Romelu Lukaku, starting up front, looked a yard off the pace, failing to hold up the ball or threaten the Iranian goal. The Real Madrid striker's first touch was heavy, and his movement lacked the sharpness that makes him one of Europe's most feared finishers. Iran, disciplined and compact, grew in confidence as the half wore on.

The game turned in the second half when Nathan Ngoy, a promising young center-back, was shown a straight red card for a reckless challenge. The decision left Belgium a man down with over 30 minutes still to play. Iran sensed an opportunity and pushed forward, creating several clear-cut chances.

Courtois the savior

Thibaut Courtois, as he so often does, rose to the occasion. The towering goalkeeper made a string of outstanding saves, including a point-blank stop from a header and a reflex save from a low drive. Without him, Belgium would have lost. His performance underlined why he remains among the best in the world, even when his teammates struggle.

What it means

For Belgium, this result is a concerning wake-up call. With a new generation of talents like Ngoy still finding their feet, and key players like Lukaku short of match sharpness, manager Domenico Tedesco has work to do. The fixture was a test of depth and resilience, and the draw exposed vulnerabilities. Iran, meanwhile, will take great encouragement from their performance against a top-ranked side. As Belgium looks ahead to competitive fixtures, they'll need their stars to rediscover their best form—and their discipline to avoid going down to ten men again.