Cuiaba (Brazil): Alexander Kerzhakov rescued Russia in their first World Cup finals match since 2002, scoring three minutes after coming on as substitute to salvage a 1-1 draw against South Korea on Tuesday.

The Zenit St Petersburg striker was brought on after rival substitute Lee Keun-Ho put South Korea ahead with a 30 metre shot that Russian goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev disastrously parried over his head into the net.

The result left both countries trailing Belgium who head the Group H table after beating Algeria 2-1 earlier.

Russia's forward Alexander Kerzhakov celebrates scoring the 1-1 goal during the Group H football match between Russia and South Korea in the Pantanal Arena in Cuiaba during the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Pic/AFP

Russia, who host the 2018 finals, were looking to make an impact in their landmark return. They owed their saved honour to Kerzhakov who scored his 26th international goal.

"The reaction of the players was really good," said Russian coach Fabio Capello when asked about the Korean goal.

"That was important to me," added the Korean. The last two countries to make their appearance in Brazil 2014 slowly cranked up the tempo in 77 percent humidity under the Arena Pantanal's floodlights.

The Koreans began brightly enough, with Bayer Leverkusen's Son Heung-Min testing Akinfeev early, his right-footed shot going high. Seconds later the midfielder was booked unfairly by Argentine referee Nestor Pitana.