Russia round-up: CSKA make it five in five

CSKA Moscow kept up their 100 per cent record today to maintain their lead over FC Lokomotiv Moscow.

Five in a row for CSKA
A 1-0 home win over strugglers FC Alania Vladikavkaz saw CSKA record their fifth successive victory of their 2002 Russian Premier-Liga campaign to preserve their two-point lead over second-placed Lokomotiv.

Lokomotiv still unbeaten
Elver Rakhimich scored the only goal of the game after 77 minutes but Lokomotiv continued their pursuit of the pacesetters with a 2-0 home success against FC Sokol Saratov. Nigerian James Obiorah opened the scoring in the 59th minute with a close-range volley after a precise pass from Dmitri Loskov.

Sirkhaev on target
The home side dominated the match for long periods, but could not turn their territorial advantage into goals until three minutes from time. Marat Izmailov's long pass found Narvik Sirkhaev in acres of space and after, bringing the ball under control, he calmly drove the ball past Andrei Smetanin in the Sokol goal.

Katulsky inspires Zenit
Alexei Katulsky's late winner gave FC Zenit St. Petersburg their second win of the season at FC Rostselmash-Na-Donu to move them up to seventh place in the table. Alexander Kerzhakov put Zenit in the lead in the 18th minute but the hosts fought back, levelling the match in the 87th minute through Andrei Akopiants. Just as the home side thought they had salvaged a point, however, Katulsky struck with a minute to go.

More gloom for Dinamo
FC Dinamo Moscow's poor start to the new campaign continued today after they went down 2-1 at newly-promoted FC Shinnik Yaroslavl. Dinamo took the lead through Dmitri Boulykin after 48 minutes, but a double strike within the space of five minutes from Eugeni Losev, in the 53rd and 58th minutes, handed the hosts the three points.

Stalemate in Samara
In the day's two other fixtures, Krylya Sovetov Samara and FC Torpedo-ZIL Moscow shared the spoils in a goalless draw while SC Rotor Volgograd and FC Saturn Ramenskoye drew 1-1.