Spartak and Zenit extend lead

League leaders FC Spartak Moscow posted a convincing 2-0 victory over city rivals FC Torpedo-ZIL Moscow to retain top spot in the Vysshaya Liga. Spartak's Ukrainian defender Dmytro Parfyonov put the visitors in front after 28 minutes and Brazilian striker Luis Robson added a second eight minutes into the second half to effectively kill off the game.

CSKA lose ground
Fifth-placed CSKA Moscow lost ground on the leaders as they were held to a goalless draw by FC Alania Vladikavkaz. But FC Torpedo Moscow narrowed the gap on CSKA as they came from behind to beat mid-table FC Anzhi Makhachkala 2-1 at the Luzhniki stadium. Anzhi went in front after 19 minutes when Budun Budunov netted for the visitors but Torpedo quickly reasserted themselves. First Vladimir Leonchenko converted a 33rd-minute penalty and then Dmitri Viazmikin completed the comeback with a goal two minutes before the break.

Late winner
Seventh-placed FC Sokol Saratov kept in touch with CSKA and Torpedo as they bagged a 90th-minute penalty winner against FC Fakel Voronezh to record a 1-0 victory. Maksim Nizovtsev held his nerve to drive the ball home with seconds remaining to give Sokol three points. Elsewhere, FC Saturn Ramenskoye dished out a 4-0 thumping to the league's bottom side, Chernomorets Novorossyisk. Moldovan international Serghei Rogaciov bagged a hat-trick with Andrei Movsesian getting Saturn's other, while Chernomorets failed to score yet again and have managed only nine goals in 20 outings.

Rare Rotor win
Second-from-bottom SC Rotor Volgograd registered a rare victory with a 2-1 victory over FC Rostselmash Rostov-Na-Donu. Roman Pavluchenko and Maksim Bondarenko put Rotor in front, and although Dmitri Kirichenko pulled one back for Rostselmash, Rotor hung on for the win.

Zenit second
In Sunday action, FC Zenit St. Petersburg climbed to second place in the league with a 3-1 win over a struggling Dinamo Moscow side. Maksim Astafiev cracked Zenit ahead after 42 minutes but the home side were back on level terms within five minutes of the restart with Deividas Semberas on the scoresheet. Yet Zenit were not to be denied and Aleksandr Spivak grabbed the winner after 67 minutes, with Alexei Katulsky killing off the hosts' hopes of a draw eleven minutes from full-time.
On Friday, both Krylya Sovetov Samara and FC Lokomotiv Moscow lost ground on Spartak and Zenit as they drew 1-1 at the Metallurg stadium in Samara. Murat Ismailov opened the scoring for Lokomotiv in the 59th minute, Vladislav Radimov levelled for the home side two minutes from time.