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| Uruguay's Edinson Cavani controls a ball during Uruguay's official training on the eve of the group A match between Egypt and Uruguay at the 2018 soccer World Cup in the Yekaterinburg Arena in Yekaterinburg, Russia, Thursday, June 14, 2018. / AP |
Inspired by the home crowd in the opening match of the World Cup, Russia ended a 16-year wait for victory.
Substitute Denis Cheryshev scored two goals Thursday to lead the host nation over Saudi Arabia 5-0 in Group A with President Vladimir Putin watching from the stands alongside FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
It was Russia's first World Cup win since 2002 and ended a seven-game winless run overall _ the national team's longest winless streak in 20 years.
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| Russian model, TV presenter and former Miss Russia, Victoria Lopyreva, takes part in the Russia World Cup opening ceremony before the tournament's first match between Russia and Saudi Arabia on June 14, 2018 at Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium. / AFP |
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| Soccer Football - World Cup - Group A - Russia vs Saudi Arabia - Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow, Russia - June 14, 2018 Russia fan before the match. / Reuters |
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| A man balances a football on his head by a figure of Zabivaka the Wolf, the official mascot of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, ahead of the opening of the 2018 FIFA World Cup. / TASS |
Yuri Gazinsky initially put Russia ahead with a header from Alexander Golovin's cross when the Saudis failed to clear a corner in the 12th minute. Gazinsky charged forward to meet the ball as Saudi player Taisir Al-Jassam stumbled, leaving him a simple finish.
Putin and Infantino smiled and shrugged as they sat next to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the VIP box. Putin then reached over to shake the prince's hand.
Cheryshev chipped the ball over two Saudi defenders in the 43rd minute and shot over goalkeeper Abdullah Al Muaiouf's right side. He later chipped the ball in for Russia's fourth goal in stoppage time.
After Cheryshev's first goal, Artyom Dzyuba made an instant impact off the bench to make it 3-0 in the 71st with a header from Golovin's cross. Golovin added the fifth from a free kick.
Following a lavish opening ceremony featuring British singer Robbie Williams, Putin welcomed visiting fans and promised Russia would be a ''hospitable and friendly'' host.
In a World Cup first, the video assistant referee system was available for the match between the tournament's lowest-ranked teams, though it wasn't used.
The Saudis, who last won a match at the World Cup in 1994, failed to get a single shot on target. (AP)
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| General view during the opening ceremony. / Reuters |
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| Performers during the opening ceremony. / Reuters |
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| Iker Casillas and model Natalia Vodianova present the World Cup trophy before the ceremony. / Reuters |
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| Iker Casillas and model Natalia Vodianova present the World Cup trophy before the ceremony. / Reuters |
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| Russia's Yuri Gazinsky, not seen, scores the opening goal of his team as Saudi Arabia goalkeeper Abdullah Almuaiouf watches the ball during 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. / AP |
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| Uruguay goalkeeper Fernando Muslera dives in an attempt to block the ball during Uruguay's official training on the eve of the group A match between Egypt and Uruguay at the 2018 soccer World Cup in the Yekaterinburg Arena in Yekaterinburg, Russia, Thursday, June 14, 2018. / AP |
