World Cup 2018: Denis Cheryshev’s incredible goal against Saudi Arabia kick-started Russia’s fireworks
Hosts humiliated their opponents in 5-0 mauling but one goal in particular stood out above all others
THE two-lowest ranked teams in the competition squared off in a World Cup opener no one - apart from the countries involved - seemed particularly interested in.
Yet this game served up not only a shocking scoreline, but a moment of absolute genius from the boot of Denis Cheryshev, as watched by Dave Kidd.
Russia's Spanish-raised winger Cheryshev illuminated this World Cup curtain-raiser with the first of his two goals as he took out two sliding Saudi defenders with an artful dink and then thumped into the roof of the net to give the hosts a 2-0 half-time.
But this effort, the fourth of Russia’s five, was the pick of the bunch.
The Villarreal star advanced into the box and netted an absolute peach with the outside of his left boot to send the 78,000-strong crowd into massed celebration.
Cheryshev began on the bench but arrived early after a hamstring injury to Alan Dzagoev midway through the first half.
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Russia had been fearing the humiliation of a first-round exit after heading into their own tournament as the World Cup’s lowest-ranked team - rated 70th by FIFA.
But the pitifully-poor Saudis were put to the sword in comprehensive fashion, with Cheryshev’s pair of beauties proving that Russia’s game was not entirely built on defensive brawn and hard-running athleticism.