Photo: EFA official facebook page
The Egyptian side wasted a number of clear-cut chances including a penalty missed by skipper Amr El-Soulaya to be punished for their lack of cutting edge on the 64 th minute when Kuwait defender Fahad Al-Hajeri headed home.
However, second-half substitute Mohamed "Afsha" Magdi leveled the score from the spot three minutes before full-time, rescuing a point for Egypt.
In the other Group C fixture, Jordan will face the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday.
Egypt started strongly, with striker Mohamed Sherif and winger Eslam Issa missing clear opportunities within the first 20 minutes. Issa delivered a brilliant cross from the left, but defender Ragab Nabil's header sailed over the bar in the 16th minute.
Despite Egypt's dominance in possession, Kuwait relied on counter-attacks that were easily dealt with by the Egyptian defense.
In the 36th minute, Egypt were awarded a penalty after Abd Al-Wahab Awadi fouled Issa in the area.
However, El-Sulaya's right-footed shot went wide of the right post, wasting another golden opportunity.
Just before halftime, Mohamed Elneny, the former Arsenal midfielder, unleashed a powerful strike from outside the box, but Kuwaiti goalkeeper Saud Al-Hoshan pulled off a brilliant save.
Second-half drama
Egypt continued to apply pressure in the second half but struggled to break down Kuwait's resilient defense and Al-Hoshan's outstanding goalkeeping.
In the 61st minute, coach Helmy Toulan made two attacking changes, bringing on Marwan Hamdi and Magdi to replace Sherif and Elneny.
Against the run of play, Kuwait took the lead in the 64th minute. Al-Hajeri capitalized on a corner kick from Mohammad Daham, heading past Egyptian goalkeeper Mohamed Bassam to put the Kuwaitis ahead.
Toulan responded with more changes in the 72nd minute, bringing on Mido Gaber and Karim Fouad for Mostafa Saad and Yehia Zakaria, respectively, in a bid to add fresh legs to the attack.
In the 74th minute, Kuwait nearly doubled their advantage when Daham found himself in a one-on-one situation with Bassam. However, the Egyptian keeper made a crucial save to keep his side in the game.
Egypt were awarded a second penalty in the 84th minute when Al-Hoshan fouled Hamdi in the area. The goalkeeper was shown a second yellow card and sent off for the challenge.
Magdi stepped up to take the penalty and confidently slotted it home, sending his right-footed shot straight down the middle to level the score.
Kuwait came close to regaining the lead in injury time when Daham had another chance at a close-range shot, but Bassam produced another crucial block to preserve the draw.
Despite continued pressure from Egypt in the dying minutes, Kuwait held firm to secure a hard-earned point.
Egypt will next face the UAE on Saturday, while Kuwait play Jordan earlier the same day.
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