Russia have made a winning start to their first FIFA Confederations Cup campaign, beating New Zealand 2-0 at the Saint Petersburg Stadium in front of a crowd of 50,251. The tournament hosts were good value for their victory, although their first goal owed a little to good fortune, with the luckless Michael Boxall bundling over the line in his attempts to clear as Denis Glushakov closed in on goal. But the Russians remained dominant and there was nothing lucky about their second, which saw Fedor Smolov convert coolly with the outside of his foot following some fine build-up play on the right win.

Russia – New Zealand 2:0 (1:0)

Goals: Boxall, 31 - own goal (1:0). Smolov, 69 (2:0).

Russia: Akinfeev (c), Vasin, Dzhikiya, Poloz (Bukharov, 64), Glushakov, Smolov (Miranchuk, 90), Kudryashov, Golovin, Zhirkov, Samedov, Erokhin (Tarasov, 77).

New Zealand: Marinovic, Wynne, Boxall, Barbarouses (Tuiloma, 61), McGlinchey, Wood (c), Rojas (Smeltz, 71), Thomas, Colvi (Patterson, 83), Smith, Durante.

Referees: Roldán, Guzman, De La Cruz (Colombia).

June 17. Saint-Petersburg. The Stadium "Saint-Petersburg".