Saudi Arabia loses to Russia 5-0 at World Cup opening game

CAIRO – 14 June 2018: Russia started off its journey with a stunning performance at home by inflicting 5-0 defeat over Saudi Arabia on Thursday afternoon at Luzhniki stadium.

Russia showed a different performance than it previously did in the friendly games at the World Cup preparations in which they failed to achieve a single victory in 2018.

Russia’s starting line-up consisted of: Igor Akinfeev; Mario Fernandes, Ilya Kutepov, Sergey Ignashevich,Yury Gazinsky, Yuri Zhirkov; Roman Zobnin, Daler Kuzyaev, Alan Dzagoev, Aleksandr Samedov, Aleksandr Golovin; Fedor Smolov.

While Saudi Arabia’s starting line-up included Abdullah al-Mayouf, Usamah Husawi, Omar Hosawi, Yasser al-Shahrani, Mohammed al-Barik; Abdullah Otif, Salman al-Faraj, Yahya al-Shihri, Taisir al-Jassim, Salem al Dosari and Mohamed El Sahlawi.

Russia opened the score after 12 minutes from the start through a header by Yury Gazinsky.

When you realise there's another 63 #WorldCup games to go!

We're only just getting started 😎 pic.twitter.com/ObbOEl5Ud4

— FIFA World Cup 🏆 (@FIFAWorldCup) June 14, 2018

Denis Cheryshev made the score 2-0 two minutes before half time when he dribbled two Saudi Arabian defenders and his shot found the target to make the score 2-0 for the Russians.

With that goal @Cheryshev becomes the first substitute to score in an Opening Match of the FIFA #WorldCup#WorldCup #RUS#RUSKSA pic.twitter.com/ItrUn9RMZq

— FIFA World Cup 🏆 (@FIFAWorldCup) June 14, 2018

At the second half, the Russians kept up their dominance Artem Dzyuba made the score 3-0 through a header.

At the added time, Russia scored two goals. The first one by Cheryshev from a wide shot while the fifth came by a free kick from Aleksandr Golovin.

Two subs. Two goals. #RUS are heading towards three points in Moscow!#RUSKSA #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/QtX0jzSLxn

— FIFA World Cup 🏆 (@FIFAWorldCup) June 14, 2018

Russia leads Group A with three points while the Saudi Team stays at the bottom with 0 points and plays in Group A alongside Uruguay, Egypt and Saudi Arabia.