Russia round-up: Four-goal Zenit shock CSKA

FC Zenit St. Petersburg were impressive 4-1 winners against Premier-Liga leaders PFC CSKA Moskva - but last season's runners-up are still six points clear after second-placed FC Saturn Moskvaskaya Oblast were held.

Zenit come from behind
CSKA had lost just once in 14 fixtures prior to Sunday's defeat and they looked to be heading for another victory when Igor Yabnovsky put them ahead on 23 minutes. Within two minutes, however, Daniel Kirita equalised and Olexander Spivak then converted a penalty on the stroke of half-time to put Zenit ahead. Ten minutes into the second period, Vladislav Radimov made it 3-1 with a free-kick, and Alexander Kerzhakov added the fourth nine minutes from time.

Challengers draw
In Sunday's other game, though, Saturn could not take full advantage of CSKA's slip as they drew 1-1 at third-placed FC Dinamo Moskva. Serghey Rogaciov gave Saturn a 22nd-minute lead, but midway through the second half, Mihal Hanek levelled the scores, and the visitors missed their chance to win when Dinamo's Roman Berezovsky saved Petr Bystrov's penalty. Dinamo remain two points adrift of Saturn.

Spartak win
Andrei Chernyshov celebrated his first victory in charge of FC Spartak Moskva as their four-game losing league sequence came to an end with a 2-1 win against FC Chernomorets Krasnodarskiy Kray on Saturday. Two weeks after lifting the Russian Cup, 12th-placed Spartak moved away from the relegation zone as Artyom Kontsevoy struck twice on his first start this season.

Lokomotiv setback
Champions FC Lokomotiv Moskva's recent good run game to an end as they took the lead against FC Rubin Kazan through Marat Izmailov, only to lose 3-1 to two goals from Brazilian striker Ronni and one from Jiri Nowotny. Elsewhere, FC Uralan Elista overcame FC Torpedo-Metallurg Moskva 1-0, while SC Rotor Volgograd beat FC Rostov 2-0. FC Spartak-Alania Vladikavkaz went down 2-0 against FC Shinnik Yaroslavl, and FC Torpedo Moskva drew 0-0 with FC Krylya Sovetov Samara.