Torpedo maintain lead

In-form FC Torpedo Moskva remain at the head of the Russian Premier-Liga after a narrow win against FC Rubin Kazan. Aleksandr Panov, a candidate for the Russia national team, scored the only goal of the game, his seventh of the season.

Zenit victory
Nearest rivals FC Zenit St. Petersburg remain three points off the lead after beating FC Spartak Moskva 3-0. Aleksandr Kerzhakov, Olexander Spivak and Andrei Arshavin were all on target.

Olic hat-trick
The other title challengers from the Russian capital fared much better. Two goals from Dmitri Sytchev secured a 2-1 win for FC Lokomotiv Moskva at FC Rostov, while Croatian international Ivica Olic hit a hat-trick in PFC CSKA Moskva's 3-1 victory at SC Rotor Volgograd.

Last-minute victory
Elsewhere, a last-minute goal by Georgi Bazaev stole the points for FC Alania Vladikavkaz as they won 3-2 at FC Kuban Krasnodar. The games between FC Dinamo Moskva and FC Krylya Sovetov Samara, FC Saturn Moskovskaya Oblast and FC Torpedo-Metallurg Moskva, and FC Shinnik Yaroslavl and FC Amkar Perm all finished 1-1.