Thursday June 14th

Group A

Russian subs sink Saudi Arabia

Russia 5 Saudi Arabia 0 (Moscow)

The 2018 World Cup began with a thumping 5-0 win for hosts Russia over Saudi Arabia. In the 12th minute a cross from Golovin found Yuri Gazinski who picked the far corner of the net with a header to open the scoring in the tournament. With 2 minutes of the half remaining, Russia doubled their lead when substitute Denis Cheryshef picked up a pass from Golovin and left 2 Saudi defenders sliding to coolly drive the ball into the roof of the net. Saudi Arabia statistically had more possession but could only create one chance when a low cross across the face of goal went begging as a sliding Alsahlawy failed to connect. The tall Artem Dzyuba was introduced in the 70th minute and made an immediate impact as he met a cross a minute later to head in number 3 for the hosts. A minute into stoppage time Dzyuba nodded the ball down into the path of Cheryshef who curled it brilliantly into the top corner with the outside of his left foot for his 2nd of the game and 3 minutes later Aleksandr Golovin curled a free-kick round the wall and past the keeper to make it 5-0 to the hosts on the opening day.