Russia's defender Fedor Kudryashov (L) and Russia's midfielder Dmitry Tarasov (R) acknowledge the fans after their 2-0 win against New Zealand in the 2017 Confederations Cup group A football match between Russia and New Zealand. Pic/AFP

Hosts Russia got off to a winning start at the Confederations Cup on Saturday, Fedor Smolov's second-half goal sealing a 2-0 win over New Zealand in the opener.