Moscow,RUSSIA: Hosts Russia kicked of the 2018 FIFA World Cup on an impressive note, tormenting Saudi Arabia 5-0 in their opening Group A match played at the Luzhniki Stadium on Thursday.
Playing in-front of 81,000 fans, among them President Vladimir Putni, Russia needed only 12 minutes to breach Saudi’s defense thanks to overlapping midfielder Yury Gazinsky who converted from a close range.
Denis Cheryshev would then double the lead three minutes to the break before Artem Dzyuba patched the third goal opening further the flood gate with Cheryshev scoring his second of the day in added a time, a few minutes before Sergeyevich Golovin put the icing on the cake with the fifth goal.
The matches continue on Friday with three games on cards. Two-time champions Uruguay will battle African representatives Egypt in another Group A encounter.
Other day’s match will see Morocco fresh from losing 2026 hosting bid, battle Iran before 2010 champions Spain take on reigning European champions Portugal.
