SAVE! Bukharov collects Zhirkov's corner at the back post, but just cannot sort out his feet in time to slide an effort past Marinovic, with the keeper producing a fine stop.
90' +2
Zhirkov wastes an opening for a third goal as he dwells on the ball on the left flank, but Boxall closes down the angle to divert it behind for a corner.
90' +1
Tuiloma throws the ball long into the box, but Tarasov is there to head clear. Tuiloma gathers once again and goes for the strike, but he slices his effort well wide of the post.
90'
Aleksey Miranchuk enters the game and replaces F. Smolov.
Miranchuk replaces Smolov for the final throes of the contest.
There will be three minutes of added time.
89'
SAVE! Smolov raids into the final third and goes for the strike from the edge of the box, but Marinovic is able to save his effort by getting his body behind the ball.
88'
Samedov swings a dangerous cross in from the the right, but the All Whites do just enough to stop Bukharov and Zhirkov pouncing at the back post, with Durante and Boxall defending well under pressure.
87'
Marinovic has the opportunity to send a long ball forward from a free-kick, but boots it straight out of play for a goal-kick. Poor from the keeper and his manager did not look happy on the touchline.
85'
CLOSE! Smolov surges down the left flank and fires a low ball across the face of goal for the run of Bukharov, but the striker just cannot make contact on the slide.
83'
M. Patterson enters the game and replaces K. Colvey.
WIDE! Thomas picks up the ball in space and raids towards the edge of the box. He goes for the strike with his left foot, but can only scuff his effort well past the post.
Colvey makes way for Patterson.
81'
Tarasov wins the first header from Samedov's delivery, but he is unable to turn it goalwards. Zhirkov gathers on the left and hammers a low cross into the box, only for the All Whites to clear the danger.
Minute
Description
80'
Smith dives in on Smolov down the right flank and hands the home side a free-kick in a dangerous position. Samedov will take the set-piece.
78'
OFF THE LINE! Smith meets the resulting corner with a powerful header and he directs his effort towards the bottom corner, only to be denied by Zhirkov on the line.
77'
D. Tarasov enters the game and replaces A. Erokhin.
Erokhin makes way for Tarasov.
SAVE! Better from Thomas as he unleashes a powerful effort at goal from the edge of the box, but Akinfeev is able to turn the ball past the post with his diving save.
76'
Thomas bottles a challenge on the edge of the box as he attempts to latch on to Wood's knockdown. The midfielder goes to ground in order to avoid contact from Dzhikiya, wasting a potential opening.
74'
For the first time in the match the All Whites are enjoying an extended period of possession. Can they make inroads into the Russia half?
72'
New Zealand win a free-kick on the right flank, and although Smith wins the initial header, Akinfeev comes off his line to claim in his six-yard box.
71'
S. Smeltz enters the game and replaces M. Rojas.
Smeltz replaces Rojas for the All Whites.
69'
F. Smolov has scored a goal for Russia!
GOALLLLLL!!!!!! SMOLOV NOTCHES RUSSIA'S SECOND! The home side kill the game off as the forward starts the move and ends it with a tap-in from close range. Smolov picks up the ball in the midfield and sends it wide for Samedov. The wing-back sends a fine ball across the face of goal that is missed by Boxall and allows the forward to convert at the back post. All too easy for Russia.
68'
The pace of the game has just dropped off slightly over the last few minutes, with Russia putting their foot on the ball. Perhaps a little bit of fatigue may be creeping in.
66'
Glushakov has the freedom of the left flank to raid into as no white shirts close him down. He lifts a cross into the box aiming for the run of Bukharov, but Boxall does well enough to clear his lines.
64'
A. Bukharov enters the game and replaces D. Poloz.
Bukharov replaces Poloz for the home side.
62'
OVER! Samedov curls his effort over the wall and towards the top corner, but his attempt just has too much loft to trouble Marinovic.
61'
B. Tuiloma enters the game and replaces K. Barbarouses.
Barbarouses makes way for the All Whites for Tuiloma.
Russia win a free-kick right on the edge of the box as Smith commits a foul on Smolov. Three red shirts, including Samedov are standing over the free-kick.
59'
OVER! Golovin seizes on a loose ball on the edge of the box and he carves out room for a strike at goal, only to smash his effort over the bar.
57'
Erokhin lifts a fine pass over the top of the New Zealand defence and Smolov takes the ball in stride, but the offside flag goes up. He was a fraction beyond the last white shirt.
55'
New Zealand's lack of pace at the back has been exposed time and time again by the home side. Even simple balls into the channels are a frightening prospect for the All Whites, with Smoloz and Poloz chasing every long ball down.
53'
New Zealand spurn another opening to send the ball into the box as Marinovic's cross is cleared by the first red shirt, while Smith loses possession on the left flank.
SAVE! Marinovic makes a fine save to deny Poloz once again following a Russia break. The striker collected a pass in the left inside channel and curled his strike towards the bottom corner, only to see his effort palmed away by Marinovic, while Thomas steered behind the rebound.
50'
Russia are back on the front foot in the contest - in the same way they dominated the first period. The All Whites are struggling to get a kick at the moment.
48'
Boxall lines up a long throw into the box, but Wood is unable to get a clean connection on his header, sending it wide of the post.
SAVE! Marinovic makes a great double save to keep Russia at bay. First he denies Poloz as the forward connects with a fine header 12 yards from goal, but the keeper dives to his left to palm it away. Erokhin latches on to the rebound and tries to steer it into the net, but Marinovic is back on his feet and makes the reaction stop.
47'
PENALTY SHOUT! Wood goes up claiming for a handball against Vasin in their aerial duel in the box, but the referee waves play on.
46'
We're back underway in Saint Petersburg.
45' +1
There will be one minute of added time.
The Russia defence clear the first cross into the box that was aimed at Wood. Thomas has an opening for a strike on the edge, but he miscues his effort and allows the home side to come away with the ball.
The referee ends the first half.
45'
Golovin brings down Rojas and the All Whites will have an opportunity to send a long ball forward into the box.
44'
Samedov's low cross is poor and the ball appears to deflect off Glushakov and out for a goal-kick. New Zealand will want the half-time whistle to come sooner rather than later.
43'
Russian win a free-kick down the left and Samedov will have a chance to send a threatening cross into the box.
41'
Smolov gets behind the New Zealand defence once again, but this time the All Whites are saved by the offside flag. Hudson's men are living dangerously at the back.
39'
WIDE! Smolov drifts into space in the left inside channel and attempts to curl a strike into the bottom corner, but it does not have the whip needed to find the net.
38'
Colvey and Barbarouses link up down the right and the former has the chance to whip a cross into the box, only for Zhirkov to get back and make a vital challenge, winning a goal-kick in the process.
36'
Russia are controlling the tempo of the match and are looking dangerous on the break, with the All Whites' lack of pace at the back being exposed down the flanks.
33'
New Zealand have to attack the home side now. They've been well below-par in the contest thus far and need to show some attacking intent to get back into the game.
31'
M. Boxall is unfortunate, scores an own goal!
GOALLLLL!!!! GLUSHAKOV FINDS THE NET! A mistake in the New Zealand backline allows Glushakov to pounce and he plays a neat one-two with Poloz and then lifts the ball over the on-rushing Marinovic to break the deadlock. The ball was almost cleared off the line by Smith, but it struck the post and bounced the right side of the line for the hosts.
29'
OFFSIDE! Samedov sends a low ball forward for Smolov to latch on to and the striker bears down on goal before burying his effort past Marinovic. However, the offside flag had gone up well before his finish.
27'
A worrying moment for Boxall as he heads the ball back to Marinovic in a tussle with Poloz, but the ball just has enough pace to reach the New Zealand keeper.
26'
SAVE! Dzhikiya takes a strike on from distance and it takes an awkward bounce in front of Marinovic, forcing him to push the ball behind for a corner rather than gathering the effort.
24'
New Zealand have worked their way back into the game after being forced on to the back foot in the early stages. However, that will create space for Russia on the counter as the All Whites push men forward.
22'
OVER! Wood wins a header in a dangerous area and the Russian backline are not able to clear the danger from the edge of the box. The forward latches on to a loose second ball, but smashes his strike well over the bar.
20'
Russia win a free-kick down the right and Samedov lifts a looping cross into the box. Vasin wins the aerial battle and directs his effort at goal, but his header drifts well wide of the target.
19'
Smolov and Zhirkov combine down the left on the counter to allow the latter to send a threatening cross towards the near post. Marinovic comes off his line and punches it away, but it lands in a dangerous area. Fortunately for the New Zealand keeper his side are able to stifle the Russian pressure.
18'
BLOCK! Wood strikes the ball, but fails to generate enough power to cause problems for the home side, with Smolov directing it behind for a corner.
16'
Thomas makes a threatening run into the final third before he gets bodychecked by Vasin on the edge of the box. New Zealand have a free-kick in a dangerous position.
14'
PENALTY SHOUT! Poloz latches on to a throughball over the top and beats off the challenge of Smith. He tries to round Marinovic, but goes down under contact from the keeper, but the referee is unmoved. Replays show that it was a poor decision from the official.
12'
CHANCE! Marinovic sends a long ball forward that Wood knocks into the path of Smith's advancing run, but he cannot get a decent connection on his effort from a tight angle.
11'
Russia have put New Zealand well and truly on the back foot in the early stages of the game. The All Whites have not managed to enjoy a period of possession in the home side's half as of yet.
9'
OFF THE LINE! Samedov lifts a cross into the box from the right and Poloz controls in the area. He pokes a low effort past Marinovic, but Smith is there to clear the ball off the line.
7'
The home side keep the ball in the New Zealand half and Erokhin is able to win a corner off the foot of Durante.
OFF THE POST! Vasin latches on to a cross from the right and directs his diving header towards the bottom corner. The ball strikes the post and rolls across the line, but Wynne is there to hack away the danger.
5'
Dzhikiya is allowed to push forward from the back to support Samedov on his raid, but Rojas makes an important block to stop his cross.
4'
OVER! Russia put the pressure on the All Whites at the back as Samedov sends a teasing cross into the box, but Smolov can only guide his header over the bar.
3'
SAVE! Golovin cuts in from the left flank and powers a right-footed strike at goal. Marinovic opts to punch it away, but it takes a bad connection off his fists and goes behind for a corner. The New Zealand was very fortunate there.
2'
Russia probe down the left flank through Poloz, but they lose possession in their attempt to break into the box.
1'
We're underway in the Confederations Cup opener.
The team news has been announced and we'll start with the home side.
New Zealand have struggled in their preparations for the Confederations Cup, suffering back-to-back defeats at the hands of Northern Ireland and Belarus. Anthony Hudson will want to see a marked improvement this afternoon to kick off the tournament.
Stanislav Cherchesov's men will be eager to make an impression in the tournament ahead of the main event next year at the World Cup. They played well during their warm-up matches, defeating Hungary and drawing 1-1 with Chile last time out.
Good afternoon and welcome to the live commentary of the Confederations Cup Group A clash between Russia and New Zealand at the Stadion Krestovskyi.
Russia have made four changes from their draw with Chile last time out. Georgiy Dzhikiya, Yuri Zhirkov, Alexandr Erokhin and Dmitriy Poloz all come into the side this afternoon.
New Zealand have made two changes from their defeat to Belarus earlier this week. Tommy Smith and Kosta Barbarouses come into the fold to replace Themistoklis Tzimopoulos and Shane Smeltz in the line-up.
This will be the first competitive meeting between Russia and New Zealand.
The players are out on the pitch, so we should be underway shortly.
HALF-TIME: RUSSIA 1-0 NEW ZEALAND
It has been too comfortable for Russia in the first half and they deserve to head into the break with their one-goal lead provided by Denis Glushakov. New Zealand have been on the back foot from the off and have been exposed time and again in their defensive duties.
Anthony Hudson will want to see a marked improvement from the All Whites, while Stanislav Cherchesov will be hoping that the home side become more clinical in the final third.
The players are back out for the second half, so we should be underway shortly.
FULL-TIME: RUSSIA 2-0 NEW ZEALAND
Russia get their Confederations Cup campaign off to a winning start against New Zealand thanks to strikes from Denis Glushakov and Fyodor Smolov. The result will give the host nation confidence heading into the remaining Group A fixtures against Mexico and Portugal in the coming days.
New Zealand were outplayed from start-to-finish and will need to find their form to avoid a pre-mature exit from the competition.
Thanks for joining our commentary this afternoon. Until next time, goodbye.
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