Lokomotiv full steam ahead

By Eduard Nisenboim

Reigning champions FC Lokomotiv Moskva have moved to the top of Russia's Premier-Liga but it is their city rivals PFC CSKA Moskva who have lifted the first domestic silverware of the season.

Zhirkov decisive
The UEFA Cup winners followed up their European success by claiming the Russian Cup for the second time in their history eleven days later, defeating second division FC Khimki 1-0. Russian international Yuri Zhirkov repeated his UEFA Cup goalscoring exploits to head the winning goal from an Ivica Olic flick-on after 68 minutes.

Cizek setback
However, CSKA's hopes of a first league and cup double suffered a setback when they were beaten by a 30th-minute Tomás Cizek goal at high-flying FC Rubin Kazan on 12 June. Valeriy Gazzaev's team trail leaders Lokomotiv by 12 points in eleventh position, but have four games in hand due to their UEFA Cup run.

Lokomotiv steaming
Lokomotiv are the form team, having won their last four matches against FC Rostov, FC Torpedo Moskva, FC Dinamo Moskva and FC Shinnik Yaroslavl to overtake FC Spartak Moskva at the summit by three points, while remaining the only undefeated side after eleven games this term.

Spartak flounder
Spartak slipped off top spot and down to third following a 3-1 home defeat by CSKA, with FC Moskva initially taking advantage after Dmitry Kiritchenko hit a hat-trick in a 4-1 triumph against FC Tom Tomsk. However, Moskva's 1-0 loss to FC Krylya Sovetov Samara allowed Spartak to regain second position by two points, albeit having played a match more.

Romantsev retirement
Dinamo Moskva have become the third team to change coach this season after Oleg Romantsev, who had only taken control at the end of 2004, announced his retirement after losing 2-1 to FC Amkar Perm - a fourth straight defeat. Assistant Andrei Kobelev has been appointed caretaker, yet despite leading Dinamo from eleventh to eighth with two wins and a loss the club's board are intent on looking elsewhere for a permanent replacement.

Triple signing
Dinamo have already been busy in the transfer marker prior to the opening of the Russian window on 1 July with the signings of FC Porto duo Costinha and Maniche, as well as Giourkas Seitaridis, a UEFA EURO 2004™ winner with Greece.