Russia vs Saudi Arabia World Cup 2018 as it happened: Latest score, goals and updates as hosts lead in Moscow
The hosts kick off the tournament and win 5-0 at the Luhzniki Stadium
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Your support makes all the difference.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.
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What time is kick-off?
Russia vs Saudi Arabia kicks off at 4pm.
Where can I watch it?
The game will be broadcast live on ITV. Coverage begins with the opening ceremony at 2:30pm.
Odds:
Russia: 7/15
Saudi Arabia: 10/1
Draw: 37/10
Prediction:
Russia 1-0 Saudi Arabia: The hosts will get the positive start they so desperately want, but it won’t be easy.
35 mins: A couple of incidents for Nestor Pitana to assess. Wonderful trickery from Fedor Smolov just inside the Saudi half opened up for space but, just as the Russian released Aleksandr Golovin, he was tripped from behind by Taisir Al Jassam. The referee waved played on, allowing Golovin to drive into the area, where he went down under the challenge of Osama Hawsawi. Once again, the Argentine official was in the right place to signal no penalty.
43 mins: GOAL! RUSSIA 2 SAUDI ARABIA 0:
Off the bench, Denis Cheryshev has scored his first international goal and Russia are well on their way to an opening day win. The Saudis had begun to lose their shape in the previous minutes and looked fragile when the hosts countered. So it proved, as the Russian drove down the right, eventually working the ball across an open defence. Opportunity arose for Roman Zobnin on the edge of the area to feed in Cheryshev to his left, but his pass was underhit. However, a lovely first touch from the substitute took him back inside the diving pair of Mohammed Al-Breik and Omar Hawsawi, and beyond Abdullah Otayf. That piece of skill was then followed up by a drive into the roof of the net at the near post to spark celebratory scenes in the stadium and across Moscow.
45 mins: There will be two minutes of added time to be played at the end of a first half that could not have got much better for the Russians.
SECOND HALF KICK-OFF: Two goals to the good and playing on the home soil, life is pretty good for the Russians as they kick-off the second half. Putin looks pretty satisfied too, smiling to himself up in the stands. We're all safe for another day or two,
50 mins: Saudi Arabia continue to show flashes of skill in their build-up play but they are looking a disaster in defence. The most basic of long balls over the top should be easily dealt with but a slip from Al-Breik puts Smolov through on goal. The right-back eventually recovers to turn behind for a corner.
54 mins: Saudi Arabia enjoy a lengthy spell of possession as they search for a route back into this one, and they very nearly find a goal. It's little more than a hopeful inswinging cross from the right, but the Russians switch off that almost allows Yahya Al Sahlawi the chance to slide in and score. Almost.
58 mins: Another Saudi Arabia half-chance as Salman Al Faraj flicks a back-header well wide of goal. A poor effort. Still, at least he hasn't embarrassed himself as much as his almost-namesake often does.
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.
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