Russia record a commanding 5-0 victory over Saudi Arabia
- Gazinkiy, Cheryshev and Dzyuba, Golovin scores in Russia's 5-0 win over Saudi Arabia
- Both sides have been winless in their warm up matches before the tournament
- Russia will take on Egypt while Saudi Arabai battles Uruguay in their respective games
Russia opened their account with a 5-0 victory over Saudi Arabia in the first match of the Russia 2018 World Cup.
The host nation had the advantage in the opening exchanges of the match as Yuri Gazinkiy put the home side ahead with a well-placed header to make the scores 1-0.
The Middle East nation struggled to settle into the match as they lacked the finishing touches in the final third.
Alan Dzagoev was substituted in the 24th minute after sustaining a hamstring injury as Denis Cherysev came on for the midfielder.
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There were calls for a penalty as Aleksandr Golovin was adjudged to have been brought down by Osama Hawsawi but the referee did not award the spot-kick.
The Russian pressure paid off as they got the second through substitute Cheryshev after a swift counter attacking move found him clear in the box.
The Villareal winger skipped past two Saudi defenders finished to score his first international goal as well as doubling the advantage for his country.
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Juan Antonio Pizzi's side produced a better performance in the second half as they pushed forward for an equalizer.
Taisir Al-Jassim came close to scoring in the 55th minute as a low cross was drilled in from the right but the striker was just millimeters away from getting the final touch.
Another substitute sealed victory for Russia as Artem Dzyuba in similar fashion like Gazinkiy produced another textbook header from another Golovin's beautiful cross. It became 3-0.
The home side were not finished yet as Cheryshev pulled another fantastic strike from 20-yards out to give the home team a 4-0 victory.
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Golovin who provided two goals earlier in the match scored a superb free-kick right at the dearth giving the keeper no chance.
It was an opening day victory for Russia as Cheryshev became a national hero scoring a brace in the 5-0 win and it was the biggest victory recorded by a host nation in a World Cup opening match.
Both sides will take on Egypt and Uruguay in their respective fixtures in Group A on June, 19.
Meanwhile, Legit.ng had earlier reported that a Russian legislator have warned their citizens not to sleep with foreigners.
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Source: Legit.ng
