FIFA World Cup 2018, Russia vs Saudi Arabia in Moscow, Highlights: Hosts Russia Hammer Saudi Arabia in Opener

Full time: Russia beat Saudia Arabia 5-0 in the first match of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Moscow. 

GOAL: This is an absolute rout on the opening day! Alexander Golovin has put the cherry on the cake with a beautiful free-kick from the right just outside the penatly box. Saudi Arabia will have to dig deep to recover from this. Russia lead 5-0

GOAL: Denis Cheryshev with an absolute pile-driver with the outside of his left foot from the edge of the penalty box. Russia have pumped in four goals against Saudia Arabia, with three coming from subs. 

Free-kick in a dangerous position on the left wing for Russia, who have thrown in all the big boys for this. They are surely looking for a fourth to make it a more convincing win with the President watching on. The set-piece has led to another corner for Russia. 

There's ten minutes to go for Saudi Arabia to either mount a stunning comeback or stop this from becoming a rout. Russia don't seem to be shutting shop just yet either but the opposition has not been very threatening either. 

Saudi Arabia have been quite poor in this match apart from passing the ball between themselves in front of the Russian defense. Russia on the other hand have managed to take advantage of the mistakes and make that count. Russia definitely more precise and incisive in attack today than their opponents which is showing on the scoreline. 

89 - Artem Dzyuba scored just 89 seconds after coming off the bench, the quickest sub goal at a #WorldCup tournament since Marcin Zewlakow for Poland vs USA in 2002 (64 seconds). Rapid. #Russia2018

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) June 14, 2018

GOAL: Yet another goal from a substitute. Russia's Golovin puts in a perfect ball to the far post and soon after coming onto the ground Dzyuba with a textbook header has made it 3-0. That should be the game for Russia.

The sight of this Saudi defense will surely be something both Luis Suarez of Uruguay and Mohamed Salah of Egypt will looking forward to face later on in the group stages. 

From the looks of it Russia are not yet shutting shop. Yet another close chance but Smolov wasn't able to convert after the initial shot was saved by Abdullah in goal. The Russians are having absolutely no trouble finding gaps in the Saudi defense to exploit. 

Saudi Arabia have been better at passing the ball around and have actually completed more passes than Russia, but have been wasteful and careless in the final third which has hurt them. The defense has been chaotic at times too which is something Russia have taken advantage of once. 

The Saudi Arabians have looked better in the first 15 odd minutes of the second half than the whole of the first half. Yasser's free-kick from the left was met in the box by a team-mate but the header went over the goal. 

Saudi Arabia keep the possession for a while and slow things down to their pace before a cross from the right wing by Alsahlawi had the Russian defense in two minds. Easily the best chance for Saudi Arabia in the match. But with no one to tap it in home at the second post, the score remains 2-0 in favour of Russia. 

The Russians are keen on a third goal from the looks of it in the early stages of the second half. That would kill the contest and the hosts would surely not mind it. They have moved the ball around better under pressure in the final third than their opponents today. 

Early corner for Russia in the second half as Smolov is stopped from going through on goal. Saudi Arabia have cleared the corner and Russia will rebuild. 

Russia have kicked of the second half in Moscow and it will be interesting to see how they deal with the second half. Will they continue to press the Saudi Arabia defense or hold back and take the score as it stands. 

Russia are emerging from the tunnel for the second half of the match. They have a two goal lead and no one has ever overturned a 2 goal deficit on the opening day. 

Half-time: Russia lead Saudi Arabia 2-0 after Yuri Gazinskiy and Denis Cheryshev scored past Osama Abdullah. 

There will be two minutes of added time at least at the end of the first half. The first period has been good for Russia as they managed to not only keep Saudi Arabia at bay, but also have hit the back of the net twice. They have lost Dzagoev through injury but Cheryshev seems ready to take over and take it up a notch. 

GOAL: Super sub Denis Cheryshev takes advantage of some sloppy defending by Saudi Arabia in the penalty box before smashing it in to the top corner. Smolov's passed the ball to him on the left in space and he did have some luck before doubling the lead for hosts. 

Both Russia and Saudi Arabia's tempo in the game has fallen a little and unfortunately for the neutral there are a lot of passes not making it to the correct player. It is an aspect the coaches will want to look at half time. 

While this game heads to the half-time break with less than ten minutes to go in the first 45, there is news that Dele Alli has been handed a one-match ban for misconduct during the FIFA World Cup qualifers. 

Russia's defense has been brilliantly organised so far in the first half and Saudi Arabian players have been giving it their all to break the resistance. The Russians haven't budged and their keeper Akinfeev is yet to be tested in this game. 

Saudi Arabia have been wasteful in attack through the first half-hour in the game. Not only have their passes been overhit or not found the desired player, but also they haven't been good at using a set play. A  good position was wasted after Salman's delivery was jumped on by three attackers who did not communicate amongh themselves. 

With 25 minutes gone, it is fair to say that the game's balance is more in the favour of the hosts. Much better at moving the ball around once they settled in to a rhythm. The pressure continues to be on Saudi Arabia who have ben defending or playing catch up with the Russians for most of the time so far.

Horrible news for Russia as their forward Dzagoev looks to have done some damage to his left hamstring. Stopped running and fell down clutching the hamstring. It looks like that's the end of the game for him. Denis Cheryshev is the substitute replacing him.  

Saudia Arabia have not had much joy in attack so far, but their first move of substance in the 20th minute gets them a corner after Kutepov clears out with his head. Back to back corners in fact. 

Yuri Gazinskiy's goal was the first shot on target in the game and the hosts are looking to pile on the attacks against their oppositions. They have to win this game as the next ones against Egypt and Uruguay will be much harder. It is also the fifth fastest goal at a World Cup. 

Russia are looking to up the ante and are threatening at every chance they can get. After the opening goal, the hosts once again move the ball down their right wing and are using the space behind the defense to trouble Saudi Arabia's defense. This won't be easy for the Asian giants. 

GOAL:  Finally, the third corner of the day has worked for Russia as Gazinskii has opened the scoring for the home side with a brilliant header. There was no defender at the far post when the ball was crossed in and the number 8 headed home the easiest of finishes in the 12th minute of the game.