5-star Russians rout Saudis in World Cup opener
JOBURG – Goals galore as Fifa World Cup kicks off.
The quadrennial, quasi-religious spectacle known as the Fifa World Cup 2018 has burst into life.
Kicking things off was British pop sensation, Robbie Williams, who treated the world to hits released back when the only Ronaldo the world celebrated was a Brazilian.
Proceedings then took a presidential turn with introductions and well-wishes from Russian president Vladimir Putin and Fifa president, Gianni Infantino.
The opening game between Russia and Saidi Arabia took 12 minutes to produce the first highlight. Russia’s Yury Gazinsky headed home at the back post after a great cross from Aleksandr Golovin.
Three minutes before halftime, the host’s Denis Cheryshev made it 2–0 with a brilliant dink over two Saudi defenders before smashing the ball in.
Another poorly defended cross by the Saudis allowed Artem Dzyuba to nod in the third. Cheryshev then produced the goal of the game, collecting the ball at the edge of the box before whipping the ball into the top corner with the outside of his left boot.
Golovin then put the cherry on the top of a wonderful opening night for Russia with an inch-perfect free-kick past the Saudi keeper wrapping up the 5–0 win.
It was the perfect start for the Russians while the Saudis will hope that they don’t become the whipping boys of Group A.
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