Zenit leading thrilling race

FC Zenit St. Peterburg leapt back to the top of the Russian Premier League after another long weekend of twists and turns.

Spartak joy
The fixtures began on Thursday with the playing of two games postponed from earlier this month. FC Spartak Moskva secured their first victory since April with a 2-0 win at FC Alania Vladikavkaz, and moved up to 13th as FC Shinnik Yaroslavl - who like Spartak were to depart the UEFA Intertoto Cup two days later - lost 3-2 at FC Moskva.

CSKA victory
PFC CSKA Moskva were the first of the top five in action in Friday's only match, and in-form Croatian striker Ivica Olic scored the only goal against FC Rubin Kazan to send the title-holders up from fifth to level on points with pre-weekend leaders FC Torpedo Moskva. However, with the Saturday and Sunday results CSKA were to slip back to fifth.

Lokomotiv lead
FC Lokomotiv Moskva and FC Krylya Sovetov Samara occupied the top two positions after Saturday's games. Lokomotiv came from behind to beat FC Dinamo Moskva 2-1 and go into first. Vladimir Beschastnykh's first-half goal for the visitors - on his debut after his transfer from FC Kuban Krasnodar - was overturned after the break by Dmitri Khokhlov and Vadim Evseev. Krylya Sovetov stayed level on points with Lokomotiv, a 1-0 victory at FC Rostov coming thanks to a Sergei Vinogradov goal ten minutes from time.

Torpedo held
However, it was the previous top two Zenit and Torpedo who occupied those places by Sunday night. Torpedo were hoping to reclaim pole position but could only draw 1-1 at FC Saturn Moskovskaya Oblast. Torpedo even needed an 88th-minute penalty from Sergei Budylin to salvage a point after the home side had taken the lead midway through the second half.

Zenit on top
Zenit took full advantage to move one point ahead of Torpedo - but only two in front of the rest of the top five - with a 3-0 victory at Alania. Aleksandr Spivak opened the scoring with a 44th-minute penalty and Aleksandr Kerzhakov added two more late on. In Sunday's other game, Moskva were back in action and picked up three more points, beating FK Amkar Perm 3-1 to leap into sixth place.