Russia Enchants Fans in Cup Opener

Russia earned a hard-fought, must win game over Saudi Arabia by routing them 5-0. At the start, Saudi Arabia pressed into the final third for the first 10 minutes. Russia would break through in the 12th minute when Yury Gazinski headed in a cross from midfielder Roman Zobnin. Shortly before the half ended, Denis Cheryshev blasted home a shot from close range to double the lead. Cheryshev, who came in after Alan Dzagoev injured himself in the 24th minute, chipped the ball past two defenders before beating Saudi keeper Abdullah Al-Mayouf. For Saudi Arabia, leading striker Mohammad Al--Sahlawi missed a header in the 21st minute that deflected out for a corner.

Saudi Arabia continued to give Russia great chances over and over again throughout the game by turning the ball over in their own half, and it showed in the last half. Russia put the nail in the coffin in the 71st when 70th minute sub Artem Dzyuba headed in a goal off a cross from Aleksandr Golovin. With the win guaranteed, Russia added more goals to boast their goal differential, a key tiebreaker. They added 2 more goals in stoppage time; the first one being Cheryshev hitting a ball on the outside on his left foot from the corner of the 18' box, and the second one a curling free kick sent in from Golovin. Saudi Arabia now have their hopes moving on hanging on by a thread, and it won't get much easier for them as they next play Uruguay.

Cheryshev after scoring his first goal