Russia rips Saudi Arabia 5-0 in FIFA World Cup opener
Online Desk |Published: 14th June 2018 10:47 PM
Host nation Russia thrashed Saudi Arabia 5-0 in the opening match of the World Cup to start their tournament in style in Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium on Thursday. | AP1 / 8Iury Gazinsky opened the scoring with a header after 12 minutes, Denis Cheryshev added a second before Artem Dzyuba got the third in the 71st minute. | AP2 / 8Cheryshev added a fourth with a superb finish before Golovin curled in a superb free-kick in injury time as President Vladimir Putin watched on in delight. | AP3 / 8Russia's Alexander Golovin, right, scores his side's fifth goal during the group A match between Russia and Saudi Arabia which opens the 2018 soccer World Cup at the Luzhniki stadium in Moscow, Russia. | AP4 / 8Russian police detain Gay rights activist Peter Tatchell, center, as he holds a banner that read 'Putin fails to act against Chechnya torture of gay people' near Red Square in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, June 14, 2018. A British LGBT activist has been detained has been detained near the Red Square for holding a one-man protest against Russia's abuse of gays. | AP5 / 8Rigobert Youmbi from Cameroon poses for a photo when wearing a body paint in the Russian color prior to the opening match between Russia and Saudi Arabia during the 2018 soccer World Cup at the Luzhniki stadium in Moscow, Russia. | AP6 / 8British singer Robbie Williams performs before the group A match between Russia and Saudi Arabia which opens the 2018 soccer World Cup at the Luzhniki stadium in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, June 14, 2018. | AP7 / 8From left, Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, FIFA President Gianni Infantino, and Russian President Vladimir Putin watch the match between Russia and Saudi Arabia which opens the 2018 soccer World Cup at the Luzhniki stadium in Moscow, Russia. | AP8 / 8