Russia and Korea Republic began their World Cup campaigns with a 1-1 draw in Group H on Tuesday.

The first half an hour was a cagey affair, with neither side creating a chance of note.

Russia had the first meaningful effort on goal. Sergei Ignashevich crashed a free-kick on goal, but it was pushed away by Korea goalkeeper Jung Sung-ryong.

The two teams went into the break at 0-0.

The first real chance of the second half went to Russia's captain Vasily Berezutskiy. His powerful header was i

Korea were next to threaten, from a free-kick. Kim Young-gwon produced a clean strike, and it almost caught out Russia's goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev.

Akinfeev was having a shaky night and you felt a costly mistake was coming. It duly arrived when Lee Keun-ho's shot embarrassed him on 68 minutes.

Russia responded when substitute Aleksandr Kerzhakov pounced to equalise on 74 minutes.

Chances for both sides followed, but they ultimately settled for a point each.