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Russia 5-0 Saudi Arabia: World Cup hosts make dream start to Group A
Denis Cheryshev's fine double helped Russia to a comfortable 5-0 victory over Saudi Arabia in the opening game of the 2018 World Cup.
Yury Gazinsky, Artem Dzyuba and Aleksandr Golovin also contributed goals, but it will be former Real Madrid man Cheryshev who steals the limelight on a famous night for the Russians.
The hosts, now 1/3 with Sky Bet to qualify for the knockout stages, got off to a near-perfect start to the tournament, with a first-half muscular injury to Alan Dzagoev their only cause for concern from the match.
After an opening ceremony which included British pop icon Robbie Williams, it took just 12 minutes for the tournament's first goal, with Gazinsky opening his international account with a well-taken header across goal.
Substitute Cheryshev, Dzagoev's replacement, doubled their lead with a fine finish to complete a good attacking move. Villarreal winger Cheryshev took the ball on inside the box, taking two sliding Saudi Arabia players out of the game with his first touch before getting the ball out of his feet and firing high into the net.
After a slow start to the second half, substitute Dzyuba netted with his first touch on 71 minutes, an impressive header from close range.
Cheryshev got his second late on, with a sublime outside-of-the-boot finish before Golovin added a fifth deep into stoppage time with a 20-yard curling free-kick.
Some of the defending and organisation on display from Saudi Arabia will leave the likes of Edinson Cavani, Luis Suarez (both Uruguay forwards) and Mo Salah (Egypt) looking forward to facing them in Group A.
Click here for Friday's tips for the World Cup from Sporting Life.
The next match of the tournament sees Egypt face Uruguay at 1300 BST on Friday, with Salah expected to be fit to play, then in Group B Morocco face Iran (1600 BST) and Portugal play Spain (1900 BST).
Betting reaction (via Sky Bet)
- Saudi Arabia's poor defensive display means they are 4/5 to lose all of their Group A games.
- Russia, meanwhile, are 6/1 to win all of their group games.
- With some now fancying them to notch a couple v Saudi Arabia, you can back Suarez or Cavani for the Golden Boot at 20/1 and Salah at 40s.
Check out the goals, below...
Yury Gazinsky - Russia 1-0 Saudi Arabia
Golovin's pinpoint cross finds Gazinsky at the back post unmarked and he duly heads Russia in front pic.twitter.com/1R4VFVaJn0
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) June 14, 2018
Denis Cheryshev - Russia 2-0 Saudi Arabia
Cheryshev keeps a cool head in the box, turns two Saudi defenders and the substitute powers the ball high into the net pic.twitter.com/vH7o2sFla8
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) June 14, 2018
Artem Dzyuba - Russia 3-0 Saudi Arabia
GOAL! Instant impact as substitute Dzyuba rises highest to meet Golovin's whipped cross with a strong header pic.twitter.com/WgiRtlUoHN
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) June 14, 2018
Denis Cheryshev - Russia 4-0 Saudi Arabia
GOAL! Cheryshev bends the ball with the outside of his left boot from 25 yards pic.twitter.com/EGP12ApXA4
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) June 14, 2018
Aleksandr Golovin - Russia 5-0 Saudi Arabia
GOAL! Golovin curls the free-kick up and over the Saudi Arabia wall and it settles in the bottom corner pic.twitter.com/VhncJcKbmj
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) June 14, 2018
Odds correct as of 1800 BST on 14/06/18
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