INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Hosts Russia dominated the first half of the FIFA World Cup opener against Saudi Arabia at the 80,000-capacity Luzhniki stadium on June 14
Saudi Arabia had the opportunity to have the first pass of the tournament
Stanislav Cherchesov-led Russia started attacking the opposition from the word go, giving no such chance to Saudi Arabia to be a real
threat. Yury Gazinsky gave Russia an early lead in the 13th minute of the game with a beautiful header
Post that, Saudi Arabia tried attacking but were not given any chances by the Russian defenders as they kept the ball at bay.Russia had 60
percent of the ball possession and had three corners to their name in comparison to Saudi Arabia's 40 percent and two corners
At the stroke of the half-time, substitute Denis Cheryshev produced brilliant skills as he beat two defenders inside the box to double
Russia's lead.22:30 IST: Thank you for joining us for the live blog
Do tune back in tomorrow for the Egypt vs Uruguay match.22:25 IST: FULL TIME | Russia 5-0 Saudi Arabia
What a tournament opener this has been. Delightful, delightful performance from the hosts.22:23 IST: Goal! Russia 5-0 Saudi Arabia
Aleksandr Golovin scores from the dead ball position as Russia find the back of the net for the fifth time in the game.22:22 IST:
Goal! This does it for Russia
Denis Cheryshev scores his second of the match as Russia makes it 4-0
Delightful set of skills from the Russian, beats the defender and hits the ball from the outside of the foot and beats the keeper withe ase
No keeper in the world wouldve been able to save it, says the commentator on air.22:20 IST: Three minutes off added time in the second
half.22:16 IST: Russia misses to score off a free kick chances as Saudi Arabia's Salman Al-Faraj clears the ball with ease.22:10 IST: 10
minutes more to go in the game.22:02 IST: GOAL!! Another substitute score for Russia
Zobnin makes a great run down the left flank and curls the ball in and a clinical header from Artem Dzyuba gives Russia a 3-0 lead vs
Smooth sailing for Russia now
The Russian coach salutes Dzyuba as part of the goal celebration. Russia 3-0 Saudi Arabia.21:58 IST: Abdullah Almuaiof is in the thick of
Abdullah Almuaiouf fails to collect a straight forward pass and drops the ball near to Smolov, who tried to put it at the back of the net
However, the keeper plunged forward and took control of the ball before Russia extended their lead.21:53 IST: One substitution each for
each teams at half-an-hour mark
For Saudi Arabia, Fahad Al-Mulwallad replaces Abdullah Otayf
For Russia, Samedov makes way for Daler Kuzyaev.21:50 IST: Russia in driver's seat as they continue to make quick runs and attack the weak
Saudi Arabia, on the hand, still seem ineffective.21:42 IST: Close! Alexander Samedov takes his time and shoots the ball but misses the
It seems that Russia have picked up from where they had left in the first half
Taiseer makes a good run to reach the curling ball but fails to make connection with the ball
What an opportunity this was for Saudi Arabia
This is for the first time the Russian defence were put to work.21:40 IST: Fedor Smolov gets a good pass and he makes the run towards the
But the Saudi Arabian defender tackles him as he shoots the wide off the range.21:33 IST: The second half gets underway
Russia would aim to extend their lead while Saudi Arabia will look to draw if not win.21:20 IST: First half comes to an end
Russia lead Saudi Arabia 2-0.21:16 IST: Two minutes of added time in the first half.21:14: GOAL! Denis Cheryshev double Russia's advantage
at the 43rd minute of the game
The substitute celebrate as he beats two Saudi Arabia defenders with beautiful skills, shoots and finds the back of the net from inside the
Russia 1-0 Saudi Arabia.21:10 IST: Five minutes to go and Saudi Arabia will look to gain control of the game
However, Russia, it seems, have other plans.21:07 IST: Aleksandr Golovin makes a swift run from the right flank but the Saudi Arabia
captain Osama Hawsawi was alert and tackles him tactfully in the side the penalty box
The Argentinian referee was placed placed and did not entertain any appeals.21:02 IST: Free Kick -- Saudi Arabia gets a free kick
The ball curled in is headed over the Russian goal.21:59 IST: Salem Al-Dawsari of Saudi Arabia get the opportunity but the ball flies over
the crossbar.21:57 IST: Saudi Arabia continue to give the ball away and Russia grab the opportunities and keep counter-attacking.20:55
IST: SUBSTITUTION -- Alan Dzagoev is walking off the field due to a hamstring injury
Denis Cheryshev comes in place of him
It is big blow to the home team.20:47 IST: 15 minutes have been played. Russia is keeping the possession of the ball and is continuing to
Saudi Arabia are looking ineffective.20:43 IST: GOAL! Yury Gazinsky scores the opening goal of Russia World Cup 2018 in the 13th minute
A brilliant header from Gazinsky beats the goalkeeper easily.20:38 IST: Russia continue to attack and put pressure on Saudi Arabia.20:34
IST: Russia gets the first corner of the match. Yuri Zhirkov swings the ball in towards the first post where it is cleared easily.20:32
IST: Russia begins the attack from the word go
They pierce the Saudi Arabia defence in the second minute of the game but the defenders are alert and the ball is steered clear.20:30 IST:
And it begins! The opening match of the tournament gets underway as Nestor Pitana blows his whistle and Saudi Arabia kick off.20:20
IST: Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomes everybody to Russia and Gianni Infantino expresses gratitude to Russia ahead of the first
match.20:10 IST: Robbie Williams enthralls the crowd with his famous songs "Let me entertain you", "Feel" and "Angels".20:08 IST: While we
wait for the match to begin, the opening ceremony is underway
You can catch all the live updates of the FIFA World Cup opening ceremony here.20:05 IST: We are moments away from the much-anticipated
tournament opener.20:02 IST: The playing XI for both Russia and Saudi Arabia have been announced
Let us take a look.20:00 IST: Hello and welcome to the live blog of the first match of the FIFA World Cup 2018 between Russia and Saudi
Arabia.Russia have never made the knockout stage of a World Cup as an independent nation and are desperate to make amends this summer
Only South Africa, in 2010, have fallen at the group stage as hosts but poor form combined with a series of injuries have left Russia in
Saudi Arabia are returning to the global showpiece for the first time since 2006, prompting the country's sports authority to strike a pact
to send players on loan to Spain to gain experience at the top level.
