Dennis Cheryshev notched a brace as host nation Russia kicked off their 2018 FIFA World Cup with a bang by smashing Saudi Arabia, 5-0.
The hosts established their dominance early on after Yury Gazinsky’s strong header put the Russians up 1-0 in the 12th minute. Cheryshev sustained Russia’s momentum by burying the ball near the post just minutes from halftime, scoring his first international goal and the game’s second.
Saudi Arabia attempted to claw their way back into the game through the counterattack but could not create anything significant. Artem Dzyuba added a third for Russia, capitalizing on Saudi Arabia’s defensive struggles with a world-class finish. Another tally from Cheryshev and Aleksandr Golovin helped Russia pad their lead and give the host nation their first victory in eight months.
