Spartak Moscow occupy Champions League spot following CSKA blunder
Spartak Moscow have moved up to second place in the Russian Premier League and the all-important second Champions League spot, following a 2-0 win over Rubin and a CSKA slip-up in St. Petersburg against Zenit.
Spartak Moscow 2-0 Rubin KazanFollowing CSKA's defeat at Zenit on Saturday, Valery Karpin's men knew the second spot was up for grabs. But the away side made life difficult for the red-and-whites, who had to wait until the 74th minute to break the deadlock in front of their home fans. Marek Suchy found himself in the right place at the right time. Top scorer Emmanuel Emenike then secured the points with a header eight minutes later.The victory lifted Spartak two points clear of CSKA and Dynamo in the race for Champions League Football next season.Anzhi Makhachkala 0-1 Dynamo MoscowDynamo Moscow have kept in the race for Champions League football next season. Vladimir Rykov made sure the Muscovites are now two points behind second place after a 1-0 win at Anzhi.Zenit St. Petersburg 2-0 CSKA MoscowZenit are just one win away from retaining their Russian Premier League title, following their Saturday victory over CSKA Moscow.Two men opened their goal tally this season just in time for Zenit. Vladimir Bystrov’s second half strike put the home side 1-0 up in the 64th minute.And in the final moments of the game, Aleksandr Kerzhakov's cross found Andrey Arshavin in the right place, allowing him to close out the game with an excellent strike in the 89th minute.The victory means Zenit are now 12 points clear at the top with only 15 to play for.Kuban Krasnodar 1-1 Lokomotiv MoscowLoko missed their chance to move third after being held at one apiece away at Kuban. Both teams created plenty of chances in the first half, but despite that it was goalless at half-time.Recent signing Roman Pavlyuchenko finally broke the deadlock for the Muscovites in the 61st minute. The 30-year-old was substituted immediately following that effort, which didn’t help the Railwaymen to hold off their advantage. Marcos Pizelli leveled matters for the hosts in the 74th minute with a brilliant free kick.Spartak Nalchik 3-0 VolgaIn the Relegation Group, bottom side Spartak Nalchick ended a run of six straight defeats with a comprehensive 3-0 win over Volga in what was the winning start for interim manager Timur Shipishev. The home team were given a chance in the first half, when Alexander Shanitsyn was fouled in the area. Roman Kontsedahlov promptly converted the 37th minute penalty for a 1-0 lead. Magomed Mitrishev doubled the advantage shortly after the break – Volga keeper Ilya Abaev couldn't keep out his low shot at the near post. And a terrible defensive lapse by Volga then allowed Daniel Buitrago to slot home and seal the points in the 76th minute.Krylya Sovetov 2-1 Amkar PermKrylya Sovetov enhanced their chances of survival with a 2-1 victory over nine-man Amkar. It was the visitors who opened at the end of the first half. Georgy Peev put his name on the scoreboard for the Perm side.Sixty minutes into the game, Sergey Garashchenkov received a yellow card for a handball in the box and Sergey Kornilenko made it one-all from the spot.Three minutes later Kornilenko scored his second of the night.Soon after that the visitors were down to nine players, as Sergey Volkov and Mitar Novakovic were sent off, but Krylya failed to take full advantage of that as it remained 2-1.
