Russia’s Golovin shines in World Cup Fantasy opener

Midfielder Aleksandr Golovin (£6.5m) was the Fantasy star of the show as Russia thrashed Saudi Arabia 5-0 in the opening World Cup fixture.

He scored the fifth and final goal for the hosts as they registered their first win in eight matches, assisting another two of his nation’s strikes for a 13 point haul.

Substitute Denis Cheryshev (£5.5m) was not far behind Golovin in the match, scoring twice and amassing 12 points.

Budget option Yuri Gazinskiy (£4.5m) opened the scoring in the 12th minute, heading past Al-Maiouf from Golovin’s cross in the aftermath of a set-piece.

It should come as no surprised that Russia took the lead in the air against the shortest side at this summer’s World Cup.

That vulnerability furthers the appeal of Uruguay defender Diego Godin (£5.5m), a great threat from set-pieces, who scored four goals in World Cup qualifying.

Indeed, Oscar Tabarez’s side netted more goals from set-plays in qualifying than any other nation from South America or Europe.

The likes of Mohamed Salah (£8.5m), Luis Suarez (£10.5m) and Edinson Cavani (£9.5m) will all likely be looked at as options for later Group Stage rounds accordingly.

There was disappointment for Alan Dzagoev (£7.0m), selected by two percent of World Cup Fantasy managers, who was forced off with a hamstring injury in the 24th minute.

His replacement, Cheryshev, was the scorer of the second goal after Russia successfully mounted a breakaway attack in the 43rd minute.

Roman Zobnin (£5.5m) fed the substitute, whose excellent first-touch took him past two defenders allowing him to slam the ball high into the net unchallenged.

Alexandr Samedov (£7.5m), involved in 11 goals during Russia’s 20 matches in the build-up to the tournament, look bright but was substituted in the 64th minute with just playing and clean sheet points to his name.

Next to leave the field for Russia was Fedor Smolov (£8.0m) in the 71st minute. Artem Dzyuba (£8.0m) was the man who came on for him, scoring with his first touch of the match – a header from another Golovin cross.

Cheryshev scored his second late-on after a knock-down from Dyzuba was rifled into the net from outside the box.

After being fouled on the edge of the box in stoppage time, Golovin, who had been booked minutes before, took the free-kick placing it perfectly to Al-Maiouf’s left to cap off a memorable victory for the hosts.

With a fixture against Egypt up next, Golovin and Cheryshev may soak up some transfer activity in the coming days.

TEAMS

RUSSIA (4-2-3-1): Akinfeev; Fernandes, Kutepov, Ignashevich, Zhirkov; Gazinskiy, Zobnin, Golovin, Dzagoev (Cheryshev 28’), Samedov (Kuzyayev 64’); Smolov (Dzyuba 70’).

SAUDI ARABA (4-5-1): Al-Maiouf; Alburayk, Os.Hawsawi, Om.Hawsawi, Al-Shahrani; Otayf (Al-Muwallad 63’), Al-Dawsari, Al-Faraj, Al-Jassam, Al-Shehri (Bahbir 74’), Al-Sahlawi