Carvalho ignites CSKA's charge

Daniel Carvalho's sixth-minute strike was enough for PFC CSKA Moskva to earn a hard-fought, and crucial, Russian Premier League win against FC Spartak Moskva at the Dinamo stadium.

Made in Brazil
The Brazilian playmaker was on hand to complete an incisive flowing move early in the game, tapping in after compatriots Dudu and Vágner Love had combined to work an opening. Spartak fought back well but found CSKA's defensive trio Sergei Ignashevitch, Aleksei Berezutski and Vasili Berezutski in superb form as their championship hopes received a major setback.

Attacking injuries
CSKA went into the game a point ahead of Spartak but five adrift of leaders PFC Lokomotiv Moskva, and needed a win to keep the pressure on at the top. Their chances looked slender before the match with Ivica Olic and Yuri Zhirkov both injured and Rolan Gusev suspended, while Vágner Love required a late fitness test.

Spartak fight-back
The Brazilian striker passed that, however, and soon made an impact, teeing up Carvalho for the opener. He continued to make inroads into the Spartak defence but his influence was more frequently felt on the counterattack as Aleksandrs Starkovs's side dominated possession. Serghey Covalciuc's free-kick forced Igor Akinfeev into an awkward save, but nobody was on hand for the rebound.

Rodríguez opening
Despite their dominance, it was a rare opening for Spartak and CSKA looked the more likely scorers, Carvalho and Dudu both spurning good opportunities around the half-hour mark. Clemente Rodríguez was finally presented with an opening on 33 minutes after a sublime through-ball by Yegor Titov, but the Argentinian wing-back's effort was theatrically saved by Akinfeev.

Tense finale
CSKA's attacking problems grew before half-time, with Carvalho and Vágner Love both going off but even with 16-year-old Aleksandr Salugin now in the side, they comfortably held Spartak at bay until a late rally by the home team. Substitute Fernando Cavenaghi's blistering 75th-minute drive sparked off a tense finale, forcing Akinfeev into action.

Lokomotiv sunk
Centre-back Nemanja Vidic contrived to head over with the goal at his mercy five minutes from time as CSKA held on to close within two points of leaders Lokomotiv, who were surprisingly defeated by FC Torpedo Moskva 3-0.