Russia 5 0 Saudi Arabia
HT 2-0
Gazinskiy (12′)
Cheryshev (43′, 90+1′)
Dzyuba (71′)
Golovin (90+4′)
Russia overcame their recent poor form to beat Saudi Arabia in stunning fashion to open the 2018 world cup in spectacular scenes, which delighted the home crowds. Incidentally, it was also the biggest win by the host nation in the opening game of a world cup since 1934.
The Russian team had failed to win in any of their last seven matches and had drawn a lot of criticism leading up to the world cup, including strong criticism by the Russian president, Vladimir Putin. In front of a largely Russian team, they never looked in trouble. The Saudi Arabian team never really troubled them and often gave possession away and gifted them countless opportunities.
The first goal came in the 12th minute when Yuri Gazinsky scored his first for Russia, heading in from close range. They then followed this up with Denis Cheryshev blasting in at the near post just before the break, which allowed Russia to go into half time full of confidence.
The match slowed down at the start of the second half and felt like both teams were happy with the current score. However, in the 71st minute Russia scored their third as substitute Artem Dzyuba headed in precisely putting even more distance between the two teams. The final two goals came in the latter stages of the game with Cheryshev scoring with a sublime finish into the top corner before a free kick was scored with Aleksandr Golovin curling a free kick sublimely around the wall.
This rounded off Russia’s afternoon in style and gave them real hope for the remainder of the tournament, but as for Saudi Arabia, it was very clear that they would have a lot of work to do if they hope to progress out of this group and compete in the later stages of the tournament.
Russia will have surprised a lot of people with this performance in the opening game, they went into the match as the lowest ranked team in the tournament lying in 70th, but this performance has shown that maybe Russia will have more of a say on the tournament than people originally thought. During the last year, they have suffered a variety of injuries to key players, which forced centre back Sergei Ignashevich out of retirement and is now a regular starter.
Golovin was very impressive on the night, providing the assists for the headed goals and Cheryshev was also a delight to watch providing a real threat on the left hand side of the pitch and a standout. Although this was a very good performance there will be much tougher tests ahead and that will start when they face Egypt and Uruguay.
As for Saudi Arabia, Juan Antonio Pizzi has an enormous job to do if they are to progress in this tournament. It’s hard to see whether Russia made them look bad or if they made Russia look good, I expect it was the former and that will be seen as more games are played.
They rarely went forward and when they did they didn’t make the most of them, they will need to be much more clinical. In a rare attack during the first half, Mohammed Al Sahlawi headed just wide and on another rare occasion, a good cross into the box evaded all of their attackers, but these moments were very rare and need to be happening much more often, if they are going to hurt stronger teams.
Man of the match: Aleksandr Golovin, he scored the final goal, had a couple of assists and was influential in his sides dominance throughout the game, I look forward to seeing what else he can offer throughout the tournament.
Referee: Nestor Pitana
Attendance: 78,011
Line Ups
Russia: Akinfeev, Figueira, Fernandes, Kutepor, Ignashevich, Zhirkov, Gazinskiy, Zobnin, Samedov, Dzagoev, Golovin, Smolov, (subs used, Kuzyaev, Cheryshev, Dzyuba)
Saudi Arabia: Al-Mayoof, Al-Burayk, Os Hawsawi, Om Hawsawi, Al Shahrani, Otayf, Al Shehri, Al Jassam, Al Faraj, Al Dawsari, Al Sahlawi, (subs used, Al Muwallad Al-Harbi, Bahebri, Abu Radeah Aseri)
sportswriter03 