Russia vs Saudi Arabia - LIVE World Cup 2018: Latest score, goals and updates as hosts lead in Moscow
After months of anticipation, World Cup 2018 finally gets underway on Thursday as hosts Russia take on Saudi Arabia at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow.
Little is expected of Russia at the tournament, but their best chance of qualifying for the knockout stage involves beating a nation making their first World Cup appearance since 2006.
Saudi Arabia enter the competition led by their third coach in less than a year, and know only a positive result against Russia will give them hope of being competitive in a wide open Group A.
After racking up five goals in the opener, Russia really could do with grinding out two goalless bore draws in their next games to ensure their progress to the knockout stages. Does anyone know where they could find such a tactical mastermind?
Should be, but isn't! This free-kick of fine precision, curled over the wall by Aleksandr Golovin and into the right corner of the net is. It's a lovely finish, and a goal deserved by the left-sided midfielder, whose technique has troubled Saudi Arabia all night. It may be a scoreline that flatters Russia, but you cannot argue with the quality of the five goals they have scored. After all the pessimism surrounding Stanislav Cherchesov's team in the build-up to the tournament, they have hit the ground sprinting.
Scrap that, it's four goals! And Denis Cheryshev has his second! It's another fantastic goal from the substitute, who takes charge of a dropping ball just inside the Saudi Arabia area and flicks a nonchalant effort with the outside of his right boot into the far corner of Abdullah Al-Mayoof's net. It's the delicious icing on a somewhat disappointing cake.
90 mins: The board goes up for three added minutes. It neatly matches the three goals and three points Russia have claimed in the tournament's first game.
88 mins: The best player on the pitch - Aleksandr Golovin - has just received the first yellow card of the tournament. The CSKA Moscow midfielder has provided two goals on a plate for teammates but has now been cautioned for two fouls in quick succession.
81 mins: Russia 3 Saudi Arabia 0: Into the last ten minutes, and the hosts of the 2018 World Cup have got themselves a solid base to build their Group A campaign. Waiting to face Russia are Mohamed Salah's Egypt and Luis Suarez's Uruguay.
Artem Dzyuba comes on as Russia's third and final substitute, and scores with his first touch! The forward had been on for Fedor Smolov for little over a minute when he escaped from his marker in the box, to plant Aleksandr Golovin's right-wing cross back beyond Abdullah Al-Mayoof and into the bottom corner. A textbook header and a comfortable three points for the hosts on the opening day.
66 mins: Russia 2-0 Saudi Arabia: Twenty minutes into this second half, and it has been flat to say the least. The hosts appear prepared to sit on their lead while Saudi Arabia look unable to find a way in which to trouble the Russian defence.
64 mins: Russia 2-0 Saudi Arabia: The Saudis make their first change of the game and it's an attacking one. Off goes the defensive-minded Abdullah Otayf to be replaced by forward Fahad Almuwallad.
The Russians respond in kind by replacing Aleksandr Samedov with Daler Kuzyaev.
