Torpedo racing away

Alexander Panov scored twice as FC Torpedo Moskva opened a three-point gap at the top of the Russian Premier-Liga following a 3-1 home defeat of second-placed FC Zenit St. Peterburg.

Panov double
Russian international Alexander Kerzhakov struck first for the visitors in the first half, but Sergei Budylin equalised from the penalty spot and goals from Panov in the 70th and 78th minutes completed a more than satisfactory afternoon’s work.

CSKA win
Reigning champions PFC CSKA Moskva bounced back from three consecutive losses to edge out FC Alania Vladikavkaz 1-0 courtesy of a solitary 59th-minute effort from Dmitri Kirichenko, who last week received his first Russia national team call-up in over a year.

Sychev show
Also on Saturday, FC Lokomotiv Moskva's Dmitri Sychev rescued a point in a 2-2 draw against SC Rotor Volgograd, latching on to a pass from Dmitri Loskov to score in the second minute before popping up late on after Valeri Esipov slammed in two free-kicks to temporarily put the home side in the ascendancy.

Saturn win
Héctor Brakamonte and Munever Rizvich collected goals in either half as FC Moskva drew 2-2 at home against FC Kuban Kranodar while FC Saturn Moskovskaya Oblast beat ailing FC Rostov 2-0 thanks to goals from Aleksei Medvedev and Dzhambulat Bazaev.

Other games
Elsewhere, Andrei Karyaka's penalty ensured FC Krylya Sovetov Samara an away victory against FC Shinnik Yaroslavl, while another Russian international, Dmitri Bulykin, scored the winner as FC Dinamo Moskva overcame FC Amkar Perm 1-0 on their travels.