Russia’s best footballer of 2008, Yury Zhirkov, created the opening goal for the hosts six minutes later. He beat Anatoly Timoschuk and Aleksandr Anukov on the flank, entered Zenit’s penalty area before sliding the ball to Ouwo Moussa Maazou, who just needed to tap it into the goal, 1-0.

CSKA could have doubled the score at the end of the period. Wagner Love rocketed the ball into Vyacheslav Malafeev’s crossbar from two meters after another great pass from the flank – this time from Daniel Carvalho.

Zenit made it 1-1 nine minutes into the second half through Igor Semshov. His finish made the Saint Petersburg’s team coach Dick Advocaat spring from the bench in joy.

The Russian international was the first to pounce on Ionov’s header, easily beating keeper Igor Akinfeev. The hosts appealed for offside, and their complaints seemed justified.

Neither side was happy to settle for a draw, and both went looking for goals and showed some great attacking football.

But it was CSKA who regained the lead. Wagner Love scored from a penalty awarded for hand-ball on 85 minutes, 2-1.

The visitors had five minutes plus stoppage time to equalize, and Advocaat put striker Fatikh Tekke on the pitch, but neither he nor his partners coule create real danger in front of Army Men’s goal.

The win puts CSKA a point ahead of Rubin at the top of the Premier League table. They have 19 points, while their Kazan rivals have 18. Zenit sit 5th with 15 points, behind Krylia Sovetov and FC Moscow on 16 points each.

Tom Tomsk 1-1 Spartak Moscow

Spartak, who are starting to find their game under substitute coach Valley Karpin, came to Tomsk seeking three points.

The hosts weren’t ready to give up from the off, however. Tom looked the better of the two in the opening minutes and eventually went ahead after Alexandr Kharitonov’s little masterpiece 26 minutes in. Tom’s midfielder dribbled through two Spartak defenders and calmly shot past keeper Soslan Dzhanaev, livening things up 1-0.

The goal made the Muscovites wake up – Alex crossed from the right and a header from unmarked Artyom Dzyuba made it 1-1 some eight minutes later.

It was a foul day in Tomsk and the teams had to battle not only each other but also heavy rain and strong winds in the beginning of the second half.

Even when the weather calmed down the teams were unable to find their way to goal, ending the match one-all.

Saturn Moscow Region 0-0 Dynamo Moscow

A scoreless draw against Dynamo, who sit in the upper part of the table, looks to be a good start for Saturn’s substitute coach Andrey Gordeev.

The team lost two of their previous matches with an overall score of 0-9 and subsequently fired German specialist Jurgen Rober during the week.

The Moscow Region side even tried to push for a winner deep into second half but in the end remained satisfied with the result.

Saturn continue to sit in the relegation zone, still looking for their first win, while Dynamo has got their first draw of the season.

Krylia Sovietov Samara 1-0 Kuban Krasnodar

Just one goal settled matters between Krylia Sovetov and the visitors from Kuban.

A ricochet after Oleg Ivanov’s shot gave Leonid Slutsky’s men an advantage in the second half.

Krylia coud’ve doubled their lead, but Kuban’s goalkeeper Aleksey Botviniev saved Anton Bober’s penalty kick.