It was a stirring victory in Saint Petersburg.

After a cagey first half, Russia blew Egypt away with three goals in 15 minutes at the start of the second half.

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Ahmed Fathy’s own goal was followed by accomplished strikes by Denis Cheryshev, his third of the tournament, and Artem Dzyuba.

Denis Cheryshev, Artem Dzyuba (C) and Roman Zobnin (R) celebrate after Ahmed Fathi own goal during the Russia 2018 World Cup Group A match between Russia and Egypt at the Saint Petersburg Stadium on June 19, 2018 Image credit: Getty Images

Mo Salah, who started for Egypt despite being palpably unfit, pulled one back from the penalty spot after VAR confirmed he had been fouled inside the box.

Egypt played with increasing desperation but did not seriously threaten to get back in the game. They will be eliminated if Uruguay beat Saudi Arabia on Thursday. For Russia, the tournament is just beginning.

TALKING POINT: How far can Russia go?

The hosts were supposed to go out in the group stages. Instead they have produced the greatest ever start by a World Cup host, with an aggregate score of 8-1 after two games. They still look a fairly limited side, but momentum makes a host nation very dangerous and it’s not beyond the realms that they could reach the quarter- or semi-finals. The draw is not especially kind to them, however: their possible last 16 opponents include Spain and Portugal.

MAN OF THE MATCH: Artem Dzyuba (Russia)

The big forward bullied Egypt all night and played a big part in two of the goals. His physical challenge forced Ahmed Fathy to score an own goal, and he added his second of the tournament with a high-class solo goal. He also produced some surprisingly subtle touches and worked tirelessly as a lone striker.

Russia's Yuri Zhirkov in action with Egypt's Mohamed Salah Image credit: Reuters

PLAYER RATINGS

Russia: Akinfeev 6, Fernandes 7, Kutepov 6, Ignashevich 7, Zhirkov 6, Gazinskii 7, Zobnin 7, Samedov 6, Golovin 7, Cheryshev 7, Dzyuba 8. Subs: Smolov 6, Kudryashov 6, Kuziaev 6.

Akinfeev 6, Fernandes 7, Kutepov 6, Ignashevich 7, Zhirkov 6, Gazinskii 7, Zobnin 7, Samedov 6, Golovin 7, Cheryshev 7, Dzyuba 8. Smolov 6, Kudryashov 6, Kuziaev 6. Egypt: Elshenawy 5, Fathi 6, Hegazi 6, Ali Gabr 5, Abdel-Shafy 6, Elneny 6, Hamed 6, Salah 7, El-Said 6, Trezeguet 6, Mohsen 6. Subs: Warda 6, Ramadan 6, Kahraba 6.

KEY MOMENTS

16’ - GOOD EFFORT! Trezeguet almost gives Egypt the lead. He broke into the box from the left and shaped a lovely curler that drifted a couple of yards wide of the far post.

42’ - LOVELY EFFOR FROM SALAH! He was half stopped by a tackle from Zhirkov on the edge of the box but pirouetted smartly to curl a snapshot this far wide of the far post. I thought it was in.

47’ - GOAL! Russia 1-0 Egypt (Fathy own goal) It looked like there was a foul but the goal is going to stand! A hopelessly mis-hit shot from Zobnin bounced across the box before being sliced into his own net by the lunging Fatih. I thought he was pushed by Dzyuba but the VAR team did not ask the on-field referee to look at it.

59’ - GOAL! Russia 2-0 Egypt (Cheryshev) Denis Cheryshev gets his third of the tournament to put Russia on the brink of the knockout stages! It was made superbly by the right-back Fernandes, who danced into the area and cut the ball back from the byline. It came to Cheryshev, who opened his body to steer the ball through the legs of Elshenawy.

62’ - GOAL! Russia 3-0 Egypt (Dzyuba) Russia 8-0 Rest of the World. Dzyuba has made it 3-0 on the night with a superb finish! He chested a long ball down, touched it past Ali Gabr and curled the ball emphatically into the net.

73’ - GOAL! Russia 3-1 Egypt (Salah pen) Salah smacks an emphatic penalty high into the net. It's been a miserable tournament for him but at least he has a World Cup goal.

KEY STATS

If Russia reach the knockout stages, it will be the first time they have done at a World Cup since the break up of the Soviet Union in the early nineties.

Russia’s eight goals in two games equals the most by a host at this stage of the tournament. Italy scored the same number in 1934.

There have been five own goals already in this tournament. The record for a World Cup is six at France 98.

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