Football: Kazan go six points clear
01 September, 2008, 10:06
Rubin's title credentials in the Russian Premier League just keep getting stronger each week. With only a third of the season now left to play, the Kazan side have a solid lead at the top. Their latest victory was a come-from-behind win over championship contenders Amkar.
Here’s a round-up of the weekend’s results in the Premier League.
Khimki 0 Shinnik Yaroslavl 0
The basement battle ended in a 0-0 tie – a result that suits neither team, as they’re both still deep in relegation trouble.
Eldar Nizamutdinov had a great chance for Khimki when his side were awarded a penalty, but blazed his spot kick high and wide. Shinnik had chances of their own, but they were unable to find a way past Berezovsky.
Lokomotiv Moscow 0 CSKA Moscow 2
This Moscow derby used to be of the highlights in the Russian Premier League calendar – but this season both sides are languishing in mid-table.
It didn't take long for drama to start in this game.
Yury Zhirkov was closing in on Loko's goal, but was fouled by Sergey Gurenko, who was shown a yellow card, which was his second of the game despite the fact the game was only 11 minutes old – and Lokomotiv were already down to 10 men.
CSKA needed less than 15 minutes to take advantage of the extra player. Zhirkov sent in a low cross from the left and Alan Dzagoev was all alone to open the scoring.
The Railwaymen gave some hope to their fans at the beginning of the second half, but Zhirkov wasn't going to let Loko back into the game. He cruised past their defenders brilliantly before slotting the ball home in style.
Amkar Perm 1 Rubin Kazan 2
The first goal of the game came from the penalty spot after striker Andrei Kobenko was adjudged to have handled in the penalty area. Martin Kushev made the most of the offer 57 minutes in.
But Rubin switched to all-out attack mode after that and the tactic paid handsomely. First Aleksandr Buharov showed his considerable strength to equalise on 68 minutes. Then the dead-ball specialist Christian Noboa netted the winner.
Dynamo Moscow 1 F.C. Moscow 1
Second-placed Dynamo failed to make any impression on the gap at the top – after only managing a 1-1 draw with the occasionaly brilliant, but sometimes woeful FC Moscow.
In fact, it was the hosts who looked to have claimed a late winner through a superb diving header from Dmitry Kombarov in the 88th minute.
But delight turned to despair for the blue and whites right at the death, with- Aleksey Rebko bundling the ball over the line after an initial superb reflex save from the goalkeeper.
Spartak Moscow 2 Spartak Nalchik 1
Spartak Moscow defeated their Nalchik namesakes at the Luzhniki Stadium
Malik Fathi was in the right place at the right time on 61 minutes. Gogita Gogua then looked to have secured the visitors a point with a thunderbolt on 90 minutes. But
Aleksander Prudnikov had the Spartak faithful in raptures when he kept his head superbly with just about the final kick of the game
Tom Tomsk 0 Krylya Sovetov Samara 4
Krylya Sovetov's hopes of European football next season remain on track after a 4-0 thrashing of Tom away from home. All four strikes come in a blistering 22-minute spell in the second half.
Veteran Andrey Tikhonov scored the first from the spot just before the hour mark after Oleg Ivanov was felled in the penalty area. Then in the 66th minute, Czech giant Jan Koller grabbed his first goal for his new side – predictably with a header.
The big man was again instrumental in the third, teeing up Tikhonov who fired home. Then on 81 minutes, the Krilya show came to a climax with Evgeny Savin finding the back of the net for 4-0.
Luch Energiya Vladivostock 1 Terek Grozny 1
Dmitry Smirnov gave the home side the advantage four minutes after the break. The lanky midfielder scored after a great, sweeping move down the right flank.
But Terek weren’t to be outdone and grabbed a valuable away point when Timur Djabrailov made the most of confusion in the box after 76 minutes.
So, Luch stay third from bottom, while Terek remain a very respectable ninth.