Russian goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev in shocking World Cup blunder

Russia’a goalkeeper has offered an early contender for the worst blunder of the World Cup, gifting South Korea a goal after fumbling a straightforward strike.

In a howler that left Igor Akinfeev with blushes to match the old Soviet flag, the butter-fingered gloveman spilled a 30m shot from South Korea’s Keun-Ho Lee to give the Asian side a 1-0 lead.

Replays show the Russian looked to have the shot well covered but inexplicably let the chest-high catch through his fingers and bouncing over his head into his own net in the 68th minute.

Akinfeev had struggled all night, mishandling many shots, and it was clear South Korea felt they could take advantage of him from long range, with Lee’s shot finally catching him.

Fortunately, the Russian favourites managed to salvage a point from the match when striker Aleksandr Kerzhakov slotted a goal from close range six minutes later for a 1-1 draw.