Torpedo take three-point lead

FC Torpedo Moskva extended their lead at the top of the Russian Premier League to three points with a 2-0 win at FC Moskva on Wednesday.

First-half goals
The league leaders secured the points thanks to two goals in the first half, with Lithuanian defender Mantas Samusevas and Russian international Aleksandr Panov both on target for the visitors. Torpedo now have 27 points from 12 league matches.

Last-minute winner
FC Zenit St. Peterburg moved into second place in the table, taking all three points from their visit to FC Lokomotiv Moskva with Aleksandr Kerzhakov's spectacular diving header from Andrei Arshavin's fine low left-wing cross a minute from time beating Lokomotiv goalkeeper Sergei Ovchinnikov and proving the difference between the two sides.

CSKA slip
PFC CSKA Moskva dropped to third place after being held to a 1-1 draw at home by struggling FC Shinnik Yaroslavl despite taking the lead through captain Sergei Semak's 70th-minute strike. Viktor Karpenko's last-gasp penalty earned the visitors a point.

Fifth straight defeat
Nevio Scala's FC Spartak Moskva suffered a fifth consecutive defeat, losing 3-1 at FC Rostov. Goals from Nikolai Shirshov and Andrey Akopyants in the first 33 minutes put the home side in command and, although Spartak striker Roman Pavlyuchenko pulled a goal back in the closing moments of the first half, Omar Mario Perez scored a third on the break in the final minute.  

Dinamo defeat
Elsewhere, FC Dinamo Moskva led 2-0 at FC Alania Vladikavkaz after just 14 minutes but crumbled in the second half and conceded four goals, with Moldovan Cristian Tudor twice on target.

Drawn games
Meanwhile, FC Rotor remain bottom on six points after a 2-2 draw at home to FC Amkar Perm. They are four points behind FC Rubin Kazan whose trip to FC Saturn Moskovskaya Oblast ended 1-1. That was also the scoreline between FC Kuban Krasnodar and FC Krylya Sovetov Samara.