AGL 40.01 Decreased By ▼ -0.99 (-2.41%)
AIRLINK 127.99 Decreased By ▼ -0.15 (-0.12%)
BOP 6.60 Decreased By ▼ -0.10 (-1.49%)
CNERGY 4.60 Increased By ▲ 0.08 (1.77%)
DCL 8.48 Decreased By ▼ -0.13 (-1.51%)
DFML 41.48 Increased By ▲ 0.39 (0.95%)
DGKC 86.58 Decreased By ▼ -0.55 (-0.63%)
FCCL 32.14 Decreased By ▼ -1.25 (-3.74%)
FFBL 65.42 Increased By ▲ 0.01 (0.02%)
FFL 10.25 Decreased By ▼ -0.22 (-2.1%)
HUBC 110.49 Decreased By ▼ -0.14 (-0.13%)
HUMNL 14.75 Decreased By ▼ -0.55 (-3.59%)
KEL 5.13 Increased By ▲ 0.15 (3.01%)
KOSM 7.12 Decreased By ▼ -0.31 (-4.17%)
MLCF 41.65 Decreased By ▼ -1.34 (-3.12%)
NBP 60.09 Decreased By ▼ -0.33 (-0.55%)
OGDC 194.69 Decreased By ▼ -2.95 (-1.49%)
PAEL 27.95 Decreased By ▼ -1.06 (-3.65%)
PIBTL 8.00 Decreased By ▼ -0.26 (-3.15%)
PPL 151.17 Decreased By ▼ -2.99 (-1.94%)
PRL 26.88 Increased By ▲ 1.88 (7.52%)
PTC 16.00 Decreased By ▼ -0.09 (-0.56%)
SEARL 78.20 Decreased By ▼ -0.25 (-0.32%)
TELE 7.39 Increased By ▲ 0.02 (0.27%)
TOMCL 35.67 Decreased By ▼ -0.42 (-1.16%)
TPLP 7.91 Decreased By ▼ -0.16 (-1.98%)
TREET 15.89 Decreased By ▼ -0.07 (-0.44%)
TRG 52.76 Decreased By ▼ -0.60 (-1.12%)
UNITY 26.55 Decreased By ▼ -0.16 (-0.6%)
WTL 1.27 No Change ▼ 0.00 (0%)
BR100 9,920 Decreased By -52.1 (-0.52%)
BR30 30,751 Decreased By -346.3 (-1.11%)
KSE100 93,225 Decreased By -423.8 (-0.45%)
KSE30 28,885 Decreased By -132.9 (-0.46%)
Sports

Russia out class Saudi Arabia in World Cup opener

The hosts Russia have kicked off their FIFA World campaign in a staggering style, as they thrashed Saudi Arabia 5-0
Published June 14, 2018

The hosts Russia have kicked off their FIFA World campaign in a staggering style, as they thrashed Saudi Arabia 5-0 in the opener of the tournament.  

Russia got the ball rolling against Saudi Arabia at the completely refurbished 80,000-capacity Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow after an opening ceremony attended by President Vladimir Putin.

After President Vladimir Putin declared the tournament open at Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium, Iury Gazinsky scored the first goal of the tournament with a 12th minute header from Aleksandr Golovin's cross.

Russia suffered a blow when Alan Dzagoev had to leave the field with what appeared to be a pulled hamstring.

Russia’s second, third and fourth goals were all by substitutes: one by Artem Dzyuba and two by Denis Cheryshev. With time running out, Aleksandr Golovin got a fifth goal on a free kick, past a badly tired Saudi defense.

Saudi Arabian side whose players are virtually all based in their obscure home league, offered an air of mystery. But that was before the game. It became clear very quickly that they were no match for a Russian team that itself has not been a world beater in recent years.

 

Gazinsky’s header foiled the Saudi plan to work the counterattack, and the team seldom got the ball even deep into Russia’s territory after that. Russia itself took over the counterattacking and found the goal at its mercy time and time again.

Even at halftime, the Saudis were looked under great burden of goals and it did not get better. Dzyuba scored on another header, likewise just after entering the game, then Cheryshev added his second in the 90th minute.

If that late goal seemed unfair to the Saudis, it got worse a moment later when Goliovin added No. 5 on a free kick in injury time.

It was the perfect start for the host nation, although its remaining group games, against Egypt and Uruguay, will be much sterner challenges.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2018

Comments

Comments are closed.