Russian football: Rubin defeat gives hope to chasing pack

Matchday 8 of the Premier League saw a rude awakening for leaders Rubin as they suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of Spartak Moscow. But the Kazan team still remain six points clear due to slip-ups from their main rivals. Neither Lokomotiv nor Dynamo could claim all three points in their respective games.

Lokomotiv 2–2 Luch-Energia

Lokomotiv took an early lead, then doubled it from the penalty spot in the second half and, despite missing several decent opportunities to score a third, looked set to win the game.

But the two goals from Russian international Diniyar Bilyaletdinov were not enough as Luch Energia shocked the home side with a strong comeback. It took Bazaev and Tikhonovetsky just two minutes to make the score 2-2.

In the dying minutes the Vladivostok team were close to taking all the points but missed several good chances.

Shinnik 2–0 Dynamo

Third-placed Dynamo Moscow slipped up with a 2-0 loss at Shinnik. It was an open game with chances on both sides. But Shinnink clinched the match with two goals in the last 15 minutes.

Zdravko Lazarov delivered from the penalty spot, while Denis Boyarintsev finished a counter-attack with a header.

Krylya Sovietov 2–0 Amkar

Krylya Sovietov were among those to take advantage of home advantage.

Coach Leonid Slutsky could hardly pick a team for the match due to the large number of injured and suspended players, but his team managed to score in the first half through Oleg Ivanov’s header. And in the second, substitute Anton Bober put in a superb long distance effort just seconds after arriving on the pitch.

Victory over Amkar took the Samara side to fourth place, within eight points of the leaders.

Rubin 0–3 Spartak

The pacey Velliton got things going for Spartak, notching up his fifth goal of the season. Midway through the second half, Nikita Bazhenov doubled Spartak's lead, and minutes later Aleksandr Pavlenko walked in number three for the visitors.

Relief for a Spartak side desperately in need of a win. For Rubin, it was the first taste of defeat this season. And the loss gives the chasing pack some hope.

Terek 1–3 Tom

In Grozny, Igor Strelnikov was the man of the match, as he scored twice for visiting Tom - a goal in each half.

Anton Arkhipov made it 3-0, beating Terek's keeper Ilion Lika to push the ball into an empty net. The home side managed to pull one back to please the home crowd and save some of their pride.

Saturn 2–2 Khimki

Saturn, looking for their third victory, needed just over a minute to get the ball rolling, Marko Topich getting his side off the mark.

Struggling Khimki managed to slot home a leveller eight minutes later through defender Andrey Stepanov.

Topich was on target again, netting his second to restore the lead for the home teams. Saturn went on to dominate the game, but Eldar Nizamutdinov's volley drew the match at 2-2.

Nalchik 0–3 FC Moscow

Oleg Blokhin celebrated his first win as FC Moscow manager with a comfortable victory in Nalchik.

Roman Adamov scored twice, his first coming from the penalty spot He then pounced on a rebound to slot his and his side's second. Then a free-kick from Dmitry Godunok wrapped up a 3-0 win courtesy of a wicked deflection.

The win moves FC Moscow off the bottom of the table.

CSKA – Zenit was postponed due to St. Petersburg side’s preparations for the UEFA Cup final on May 14. This postponement, along with those Zenit’s four other matches in May has received some mixed reactions in Russia’s football community.

To watch Matchday 8 goals press the VIDEO button on the right.

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