The first game of World Cup 2018 turned out to be a goal feast as Gazinsky, Cheryshev, Golovin & Dzyuba scored 5 goals for Russia to give them a 5-0 win over Saudi Arabia.
2018 World Cup
5-0
Match Events
12' GOAL! Russia 1-0 Saudi Arabia (Gazinsky)
GOALLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!! 1-0!!!! GAZINSKY PUTS RUSSIA AHEAD!
We have the first goal at the 2018 World Cup as Gazinsky directs his header beyond the reach of Al-Mayoof. Saudi Arabia failed to clear the corner from the home side. Golovin directed a cross to the back post for Gazinskiy to rise above his man and place his header into the bottom corner. A fine finish from the midfielder.
15' Amazing save from Saudi keeper!
SAVE! Russia break forward down the right as Dzagoev releases Fernandes down the right flank. He cuts the ball back for Smolov in the middle. His effort deflects off Omar Hawsawi and still forces Al-Mayoof into the stop.
Fernandes was offside when he crossed the ball so if Smolov had scored it would have been brought back on VAR.
22' Russia ace Dzagoev limps off with injury!
Oh dear. Dzagoev is down in a heap clutching his hamstring. He went down off the ball and remained on the ground. It does not look good for the midfielder.
42' GOAL! Russia 2-0 Saudi Arabia (Cheryshev)
GOALLLLLLLLLLL!!!! CHERYSHEV DOUBLES RUSSIA'S LEAD!!
The host nation are in command of the game as Saudi Arabia are stretched at the back before Cheryshev plants a finish past Al-Mayoof. Russia broke with speed down the right before working the ball across to the left flank.
Two defenders flung themselves towards the Villarreal midfielder, but he kept his composure with a neat piece of skill. Then with his left foot he fired the ball high into the net to double his side's advantage.
67' Amazing save from Mayoof!
CHANCE! Kuzyaev has space for a drive at goal inside the box. Al-Mayoof makes the save, but he palms the ball out into the middle of the box. Fortunately for him, Osama Hawsawi is there to clear ahead of Smolov.
71' GOAL! Russia 3-0 Saudi Arabia (Dzyuba)
GOALLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!! 3-0!!!!!! DZYUBA MAKES IT THREE FOR THE HOST NATION!!
The forward peels off the back of Omar Hawsawi in the box and guides his header into the bottom right corner. Saudi Arabia are opened up easily at the back, allowing Golovin to float a cross from the right flank towards the middle.
Dzyuba makes the move to beat the attention of the Saudi defender before placing his effort past Al-Mayoof.
91' GOAL! Russia 4-0 Saudi Arabia (Cheryshev)
GOALLLLLLLLLLLL!!!! RUSSIA HAVE FOUR!!!! CHERYSHEV SCORES A STUNNER!!
The winger ends the game on the highest of notes with a screamer into the top corner. Dzyuba won the knockdown in the final third. Cheryshev collected on the edge of the box and took a touch before firing at goal with the outside of his boot.
His effort flew over Al-Mayoof into the top corner of the net. A stunning goal, which caps a brilliant performance off the bench.
95' GOAL! Russia 5-0 Saudi Arabia (Golovin)
GOALLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!! 5-0!!!!!! GOLOVIN GETS A DESERVED GOAL!!!
Russia compound Saudi Arabia's agony as the winger curls a fine strike from the free-kick. Golovin lifted his effort over the wall and it had the perfect amount of bend on it to drift inside the post before nestling into the back of the net.
Match Report
Russia now have momentum to take into their next two Group A games after making the perfect start to the tournament. Saudi Arabia on the other hand need to get themselves into gear ahead of their next outing against Uruguay.
Russia make the perfect start to the tournament with a hammering of Saudi Arabia in the opening match of the 2018 World Cup.
Stanislav Cherchesov's men dominated their opponents with their clinical edge in the final third.
Yuri Gazinskiy got them off the mark with a fine headed finish from close range before Denis Cheryshev scored the first of his two strikes, displaying great composure.
Artem Dzyuba was the second player to come off the bench to find the net when he headed home.
In stoppage time Cheryshev scored a beauty with the outside of his left foot before Aleksandr Golovin capped off the game by curling home a free-kick.
Line-ups
Russia XI: Yuri Zhirkov, Igor Akinfeev, Sergei Ignashevich, Smolov, Aleksandr Samedov, Alan Dzagoev, Mario Fernandes, Gazinskiy, Ilya Kutepov, Roman Zobnin, Aleksandr Golovin
Subs: Kudryashov, Granat, V. Gabulov, Igor Smolnikov, Aleksandr Erokhin, Artem Dzyuba, A. Semenov, Andrey Lunev, Denis Cheryshev, Daler Kuzyaev, Aleksey Miranchuk, Anton Miranchuk
Saudi Arabia XI: Osama Hawsawi, Taisir Al Jassim, Abdullah Al-Mayoof, Mohammed Al Sahlawi, Yehya Al Shehri, Salman Al Faraj, Yasir Al Shahrani, Omar Hawsawi, Salem Al Dawsari, Abdullah Otayf, Mohammed Al-Burayk
Subs: Yasser Al-Mosailem, Mansour Al Harbi, Abdulmalek Al Khaibri, Mohannad Aseri, Hussain Al Mogahwi, Hattan Babhir, Fahad Al Muwallad, Motaz Hawsawi, Mohammed Al Owais, Mohammed Kanno, Ali Albulayhi, Abdullah Alkhaibari