Russia 2018 world cup: Matchday review, Matchday 1 (Russia vs Saudi Arabia)
......by Ikechukwu Kenneth
*#FIFA WORLD CUP*
*#RUSSIA 2018*
Happy Vladimir, as Aleksandr Golovin Putin a man of the match performance in opening Match.
The Fifa 2018 world cup kicked off in scintillating style, Thursday, as 22 year old CSKA Moscow midfielder, Aleksandr Golovin, ran the show in the middle of the park, leading the resurgent Russian team to a five-nil romp over Saudi Arabia, in Luzhniski.
The mundial had opened up to much funfare, with British pop icon Robbie Williams and Russian sweetheart Aida Garifullina- who won the 2013 Operalia competition- headlining the opening ceremony.
Although Nigerian afro pop sensation, Wizkid, was rumoured to be amongst the star cast performers on show at the Russian 2018 opening ceremony, it was a certain 22 year old Russian Sensation that shone the brightest. Aleksandr Golovin.
The Middle East nation, Saudi Arabia, started the game like a house on fire, taking the game to the host from the first blast of the whistle, but thier enthusiasm died a natural death after the first 15 minutes. Then it became The Aleksandr Golovin Show. The CSKA moskow attacking midfeilder was at the heart of everything positive for the Russians and fittingly, his cross into the box in the 16th minute allowed for Gazinsky to head the head nation into the lead. Yuri Zhirkov had swung in a corner kick, which was nodded away at the near post from a man in green, but only as far as the red shirted Golovin, taking it down sweetly. The young Russian prodigy then plays a quick pass to Zhirkov, who returns the favour immediately, and then Golovin beautifully floats the ball across the goal area for Gazinsky to head home his first international goal and Russia's first of the night.
Having gone one up, the mood in the stadium became pensive after star striker, Alan Dzagoev, pulled up from a counter attacking movie having torn his hamstring. However, the Russians werent going to miss him much, as his replacement, Villareal's Dennis Chereysev, his side two nil up going into the break.
On the pitch, Cherchesov's charges were doing the job on the Saudi Arabians, but it was the activities in the stands that actually did catch the eye. Russia President, Vladimir Putin, obviously relishing the show his countrymen were putting on, was seen throwing knowing glances at FIFA's Infantino and the leader of Saudi Arabia.
The second half did resume to a status quo, as the men in green kept possession with Russia content with sitting back and hitting quickly on fast counters. One of those fast breaks aptly resulted in the third goal for the Russians, as second half substitute, Dzuba, scored barely two minutes he came on for the largely effective Smolov. It looked like three goals would get them the much needed nerve settling 3 points from the first game, but the match was far from done as 3 minutes additional time was signalled by the fourth official. First, Chereysev got his brace, and put Russia four up, bending his left footed shot just around the Saudi goal keeper. Then the man of the match in the opening game rounded up the game, and sealing Pizzi's fifth loss in nine Saudi Arabia games, by bending a beautiful setpiece around the green wall of the Saudis and into the net.
If Russia is to avoid the disaster of bowing out of the mundial in the group stage- infamously held by South Africa, and set in 2010 - they need spirited performances such as the one PUTIN by Aleksandr Golovin. Up next is Egypt and Uruguay, common Russia, show some good loving
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