Zenit abandon hope of Premier League crown

21 September, 2008, 17:59

Zenit’s captian Anatoly Timoschuk said that his club shoud now concentrate on the UEFA Champions leagues as the home loss to CSKA Moscow on Sunday has put an end to their hopes of defending the Russian Premier League title. Rubin Kazan remain the favourites to replace the St.Petersburg team ot the top following their victory over Spartak Moscow at Luzhniki Stadium.

Zenit St.Petersburg 1 CSKA Moscow 3

The visitors were quick to open the scoring. Just two minutes in, Vagner Love’s great through ball led to Alan Dzagoyev beating keeper Malofeyev in the near corner to make it 1-0. Ten minutes later, Zenit had an opportunity to equalise, but Igor Denisov's shot struck the post.

After 55 minutes Milosh Krasic was brought down in the box and Vagner made no mistake from the spot. The Brazilian international is the league’s leading scorer with 10 goals. In the 64th minute things got even worse for the home side, a brilliant left wing run by Zhirkov allowed Dzagoyev to score his second and make it 3-0.

Pavel Pogrebnyak scored a consolation goal two minutes from time, but that didn't stop the army men from leaving St. Petersburg with their first win in four years, while Zenit remain eighth in the standings.

Spartak Moscow 0 Rubin Kazan 1

Coach Mikhael Laudrup suffered his first defeat with Spartak Moscow in his very first Russian Premier League encounter. Rubin Kazan got three points in traditional style – scoring at the start of the game and then holding on to the advantage.

Former Tottenham striker Sergey Rebrov got the only goal of the game on 15 minutes. Rubin now hold a nine-point lead at the top with just eight games remaining.

Dinamo Moscow 2 Shinnik Yaroslavl 0

Second-placed Dinamo Moscow keep up their pursuit of Rubin after a 2-0 home win over bottom side Shinnik Yaroslavl. Both goals were scored by one of Russia’s Euro-2008 heroes, midfielder Igor Semshov.

Amkar Perm 1 Krylya Sovietov Samara 0

Another contender Amkar Perm were stronger than Krylya Sovietov. The only goal of the game straight from a corner as Drinchich’s cross deflected off the post, hit the keeper’s back and went into the net.
 
Khimki 2 Saturn 1

In the battle between the league’s two Moscow region sides, Khimki celebated the opening of the club’s new stadium with a 2-1 win over Saturn.

Tom Tomsk 2 Terek Grozny 0

Tom’s new coach Valery Nepomnyashiy started his new job with a win as he led his team to a 2-0 victory over Terek Grozny.

Luch Energia Vladivostok 1 Lokomotiv Moscow 3

Lokomotiv Moscow prevailed in a thriller in Russia’s Far East, twice coming from behind to beat Luch 3-2.

FC Moscow 1 Spartak Nalchik 3

And FC Moscow continue their disappointing performance as they suffered a home defeat at the hands of Spartak Nalchik – 3-1 the final score.