Goal

List of goalscorers

Y. Gazinskiy
12'
1 - 0
D. Cheryshev
43'
2 - 0
A. Dzyuba
71'
3 - 0
D. Cheryshev
91'
4 - 0
A. Golovin
94'
5 - 0
Press

Match report in news

  • 95'
    And that's full time! What a way for Russia to begin the tournament on home turf! Thanks for joining us and make sure to come back tomorrow when we really get into the swing of things with three games...
Goal
Goaaaaaal!
de Rusia en el 94'
  • 94'
    It's five!!! Golovin scores direct from a free kick!
Goal
Goaaaaaal!
de Rusia en el 91'
  • 91'
    GOAL!What a goal from Cheryshev! Icing on the cake that as he curls one off the outside of his left foot into the far corner.
Card

Yellow card

a Rusia
  • 88'
    Golovin goes into the book for a cynical pull of the shirt. A stain on an otherwise flawless performance from him.
  • 87'
    It's cleared and the hosts concede a foul.
  • 86'
    A free kick is headed behind and Russia have another corner.
  • 83'
    Russia searching for more now. Goals could be crucial in getting out of this group.
  • 77'
    Under 15 minutes to go and it's a party atmosphere in Moscow.
Goal
Goaaaaaal!
de Rusia en el 71'
  • 71'
    GOAL! It's 3-0! Surely game over now as Dyzuba heads home.
Substitution

Substitution

at Arabia Saudí
Substitution

Substitution

at Rusia
  • 64'
    First change for the Saudis. Otayf off for Muwallad. Samedov off for Kuziaev as well.
  • 58'
    And now Salman heads just over. There could still be something in this game for the side in green.
  • 56'
    A spell of possession for Saudi Arabia and a chance goes just wide after Taisser can't get on the end of it.
  • 52'
    Samedov finds some space but he fires over.
  • 50'
    The Saudi defence took a battering in that first half and Russia are at it again. Next up for the Middle Eastern side? Suarez and Cavani.
  • 46'
    And we are back underway!
  • 45'
    And that is half time. A perfect start for the hosts!
  • 45'
    Two minutes added on...
Goal
Goaaaaaal!
de Rusia en el 43'
  • 43'
    GOAL! Russia have a second! Cheryshev gets two bites at the cherry and slams a finish in high at the near post. Pandemonium in the stands.
  • 42'
    Cheryshev weaves through but his final touch lets him down and it's a goalkick.
  • 41'
    Five minutes until half time and the game has slowed... Russia content to sit on their lead and the Saudis don't seem to have an answer.
  • 35'
    Golovin goes down in the box after a strong run... The referee waves off the appeals!
  • 34'
    Smolov almost in behind but he can't get his elastico quite right and ends up fouling the defender.
  • 31'
    Saudi Arabia have a dangerous free kick but it's headed over the bar.
  • 27'
    Cheryshev full of running already but his cross from the left is blocked.
Injury

Injured

en Rusia
  • 23'
    This looks bad for Alan Dzagoev... He pulls up in the middle of the pitch and it appears his hamstring has gone. That's his tournament over. Cheryshev comes on.
  • 21'
    Russia dominating now as they miss another chance but wait... Saudi Arabia break and it's just wide from Al-Sahlawi! Corner.
  • 19'
    Some questions over that Russian goal as there was a clear offside in the build up, VAR must have missed that.
  • 15'
    Almost a second for the hosts! Al-Mayouf saves eventually...
  • 14'
    Interestingly, the Saudi monarch and Putin are sat together with Gianni Infantino...
Goal
Goaaaaaal!
de Rusia en el 12'
  • 12'
    GOAL! Russia score! Gazinsky with it as he heads home from a cross on the right from Golovin!
  • 10'
    Russia can't make anything from another corner and the Saudis break. Still nothing doing.
  • 7'
    Russia almost create one! A ball back from the byline can't be converted by Fernandes.
  • 7'
    Both teams struggling to settle - which is understandable - few chances so far.
  • 3'
    Russia get their first corner of the tournament but it can't clear the first man.
  • 2'
    Dzagoev almost gets in behind but the ball is cleared. A huge noise from the crowd.
  • 1'
    And we're off! Saudi Arabia straight on the attack.
Start of match

Start of match

  • PRVW
    A rousing rendition of the Russian national anthem, and now it's time for the football!
  • PRVW
    Gianni Infantino is out next, speaking competent Russian.
  • PRVW
    The teams are out on the pitch in front of about 100 cameramen... The anthems won't be far off. First up: Vladimir Putin.
  • PRVW
    That looks to be all for Robbie... only 15 minutes until kickoff and the teams will be out soon!
  • PRVW
    Ronaldo Lima and one lucky Russian child take the first kick of the Telstar on the pitch, but it's saved by the mascot!
  • PRVW
    Robbie is joined by Aida Garifullina, a Russian singer, and they do a duet of Angels.
  • PRVW
    Children make their way onto the pitch in a symbolic display of modern Russia... Robbie goes with Feel next.
  • PRVW
    Robbie Williams and Ronaldo make their way out onto the pitch... Let me entertain you rings around the stadium!
  • PRVW
    The Luzhniki will also host the final in a month's time on July 15, and it is one of the most historic stadiums in the world having hosted the Olympics in 1980 as well as the 2008 Champions League final.
  • PRVW
    The stadium is filling, and the opening ceremony will be starting soon...
  • PRVW
    Saudi Arabia XI: Al-Maiouf, Alburayk, Os. Hawsawi, Om. Hawsawi, Al-Shahrani, Otayf, Al-Dawsari, Al-Faraj, Al-Jassam, Al-Shehri, Al-Sahlawi.
  • PRVW
    And the hosts have got their team selections in early... Russia XI: Akinfeev, Fernandes, Kutepov, Ignashevich, Zhirkov, Gazinsky, Zobnin, Samedov, Golovin, Dzagoev, Smolov
  • PRVW
    The two sides go into the game as the lowest ranked teams in the tournament, but with 80,000 locals and quite a few Saudis packed into the Luzhniki Stadium it promises to be some atmosphere!
Info

Pre-match

14 June 2018, 17:00

Referee: Néstor Pitana

Stadium: Luzhniki

  • PRVW
    Good afternoon and welcome! The World Cup is finally here and we are closing in on the opening ceremony before the opening game between Russia and Saudi Arabia!