Russia round-up: Spartak keep heat on Lokomotiv

Russian champions FC Spartak Moscow kept up the pressure on first division leaders FC Lokomotiv Moscow tonight when they secured their ninth win in ten matches by overcoming a one-goal deficit to defeat FC Anzhi Makhachkala.

Danishevsky the hero
In a match moved forward three months to ease an autumn fixture pile-up, Aleksandr Danishevsky was once again the hero, scoring the winner less than two minutes after coming on at the start of the second half to seal a 2-1 victory. The 18-year-old striker also scored the vital goal in Saturday’s derby win over Dynamo Moscow.

Short-lived lead
Visitors Anzhi had taken a surprise lead on six minutes through Aleksandr Babich but did not stay in front for long. Russian international defender Yuri Kovtun equalised for Spartak on 25 minutes, despite playing for the first time in six weeks after breaking an elbow.

Pluses and minuses
However, not everything went the way of the hosts as captain Igor Titov hobbled off on 13 minutes with a leg injury. Spartak were already missing Ukraine international defender Dmytro Parfyonov, who is ruled out for the rest of the year after breaking his leg against Dynamo.

Three-point advantage
Lokomotiv, meanwhile, collected a comfortable 2-0 win at mid-table SC Rotor Volgograd to stay three points clear at the top. Vladimir Maminov scored in the 58th minute, before Nigerian striker James Obiorah doubled the lead.

Rostselmash date
Third-placed CSKA Moscow, who are nine points adrift of Lokomotiv but have three games in hand, face FC Rostselmash Rostov-Na-Donu on Friday.