World Cup Day 1 Match Review - Russia Vs Saudi Arabia
The long awaited World Cup took off yesterday at Russia as the host takes on Saudi Arabia.
The game started at 6 pm (Nigeria time).
At 3 minutes to the game, Russia picks up the first corner of the World Cup, as Granat of Saudi clears the ball off the goal post.
5 minutes into the game, Russia cuts into Saudi with a counter-attack, but Os Hawsawi puts in a well-timed out challenge to get the ball out of trouble.
It's 11 minutes and Russia Dzagoev collects the ball, but Saudi defend the ball as Russia gets a corner kick.
12 minutes -Golovin gives in a curling cross and Gazinskiy was on hand to nod into the ball. Russia make the breakthrough! 1-0!
It's 14 minutes -Alan Dzagoev shoots and Saudi keeper Abdullah Al-Mayouf makes a good save.
It's 20 minutes- A cross comes in and Al Sahlawi for Saudi gets an header but it scrambled away for a corner, which is wasted.
28 minutes into the game- Salman Al-Faraj has a cross coming in, but the Saudi header balloons the ball over!
35 minutes in the game and it's still 1-0 . Golovin is brought down in the penalty box. The referee says keep playing on. That should be a disappointment to the Russian team.
39 minutes- Saudi keeps the possession, but haven't really done much with it.
It's 44 minutes- Goal! Russia doubles their lead with a superb goal. Russia plays the ball across the box to Cheryshev. His quick change of direction puts two Saudi defenders on the floor and the winger smashes the ball into the near corner. It was a superb goal. Russia keeps the lead! 2-0!
45 minutes - Peep! Half-time!
IT'S HALF TIME
SECOND HALF KICKS OFF
It's 48 minutes- The players possesses the ball keeping it in the midfield.
It's 51 minutes and Russia shoots from outside the box. His shot flies over the bar.
It's 55 minutes and Russia gets the cross in the box but Al Sahlawi and Taisar Al-Jassim fail to head the ball into the back of net!
61 minutes- Russia keeps the possession. Samedov comes off and Kuzyaev comes on in his place.
69 minutes into the game- Artem Dzyuba comes in. He replaces Fyodor Smolov.
It's 71 minutes- It's a Goal! 3-0! Sub Artem Dzyuba heads in the third, after a nice ball from Aleksandr Golovin, who been the man of the match
It's 75 minutes and the Russian fans celebrates their awesome performance
81- Saudi's feels completely overwhelmed on the big stage. They hardly any shots on target.
85-Yuri Zhirkov plays a free-kick to the back post.
90- Three minutes of extra time to be played!
90+1 Goal! 4-0 Magnificent goal by Denis Cheryshev. He shoots the ball into the top corner. It's indeed Magnificant! 4-0!
90+3-GOAL! 5-0 Aleksandr Golovin curls in a peach of a free-kick! 5-0!
Game Over
It was a splendid game. Both teams play well Russia get whole 3 points.