Russian Premier League leaders CSKA Moscow remained top of the table on Sunday despite losing points in a 1-1 draw at FC Krasnodar.
The Red Army side have 41 points after 18 matches, five ahead of second-placed Zenit St Petersburg while Dynamo Moscow sit third on 35 points.
CSKA took the lead in the seventh minute through Japanese midfielder Keisuke Honda, who scored from Sergei Ignashervich’s pass.
In the 32nd minute Krasnodar had a chance to level from the penalty spot but Yury Movsisyan fluffed his attempt after Kirill Nababkin had handled the ball in the area.
Krasnodar pulled level in the 60th minute through halftime substitute midfielder Andrei Mikheyev, who beat CSKA ‘keeper Igor Akinfeyev. In a fiesty ending, both teams finished with 10 men after defenders Nababkin and Alexander Martynovich were sent off.
Defending champions Zenit St Petersburg enjoyed a 1-0 home win over minnows Spartak Nalchik.
Zenit were in command throughout and took the lead in the 23rd minute when midfielder Viktor Faizulun scored with a 10-metre header from striker Alexander Kerzhakov’s cross.
“We were making too many easy and unforced mistakes today,” Zenit manager Luciano Spalletti said.
“It was important to win but the next match against CSKA in Moscow will be extremely important. It’s the fundamental match. It will be vital for us to win next Saturday.” Dynamo Moscow claimed a 2-0 win over Volga Nizhny Novgorod. Volga full back Gia Grigalava was sent off just before the half-hour mark after collecting two yellow cards within just one minute. Dynamo opened the scoring in the 60th minute through midfielder Igor Semshov, who beat Volga goalkeeper Ilya Abayev with a precise and powerful 22-metre shot. Winger Alexander Samedov added the second goal in the fifth minute of injury time.
