The sides sitting in the two top places in the Russian Premier League, Rubin and CSKA, were both winners on match day 25. But Zenit’s plans of making it into the Champions league next season were dealt a serious blow in Nalchik.

CSKA 4 Amkar 1

Amkar took the lead on 38 minutes. Martin Kushev was unmarked in the penalty area and his header beat Igor Akinfeev. 

But CSKA's response was almost immediate. On the stroke of half time, Alan Dzagoev levelled the score. The 18-year-old got his 8th goal in only 15 games this season.

Five minutes into the second half the hosts were awarded a penalty and Amkar’s Cherenchikov was sent-off for a second bookable offence.

Then Brazilian international Wagner Love stepped up. He scored from the spot and then made it 3-1 with a header. In injury time Sergey Ignashevich made it 4-1.

Valery Gazzaev , CSKA Coach, said:  “I thought Amkar played well in the first half and made good use of the counter-attack. But after the break, we were better and after they had a man sent-off the game became very easy. The only down side is perhaps we should have scored a few more goals.”

Shinnik Yaroslavl 0 Rubin Kazan 2

The leaders proved their class once again scoring a goal in each of the halves. Noboa put the ball in from a free-kick and Rebrov settled the score with six minutes to play. 

Spartak Nalchik 2 Zenit St Petersburg 2

The defending champions’ plans of making it into the Champions League next season have received a serious blow in Nalchik. The team from Southern Russia, which beat Zenit 4-3 in the first round, was the first to open the score. Shumeyko left no chance for goalkeeper Malafeev from close range.

Zenit tried to come back into the game but managed to do it only in the second half after wasting a lot of good opportunities. Domingues put the ball into the far corner after a pass from Pogrebnyak.

Saint Petersburg continued to push forward and Arshavin put them in front after going one-on-one with the goalkeeper. The Russian international, who has been nominated for the Golden Ball award along with Europe’s 29 top footballers, is regaining the splendid form he showed at Euro-2008.   

Zenit was close to grabbing the crucial away win but Nalchik’s counter-attack, which ended with Mashukov’s accurate shot, spoilt the celebrations.

Now, with five games to play, Dick Advocaat’s men remain 6 points away from the third Champions League place.

Terek Grozny 0 Dinamo Moscow 0

The sides were unable to find a winner in a close game in the Chechen capital. The hosts were closer to taking the lead, but failed to take advantage of some good scoring chances. 

Krylia Sovietov Samara 1 FC Moscow 1

6th placed Krylya Sovietov saw their hopes of qualifying for the UEFA Cup dented as they were held 1-1 at home by FC Moscow.

The home side began the day knowing a win would lift them above Zenit and into a UEFA Cup spot.

That was looking a likely outcome when on 27 minutes Krylya took the lead through their big Czech forward, Jan Koller.

The celebrations would be short lived though, as exactly 10 minutes later FC Moscow’s Hector Bracamonte juggled, and turned, before placing his shot in the corner of the net.  1-1 was the final score in Samara.

Lokomotiv Moscow 0 Khimki Moscow Region 2

Another team who saw their European hopes derailed on Sunday are Lokomotiv Moscow.

The railway men went down 2-0 to Khimki, who opened the scoring on the stroke of half-time as Eldar Nizamutdinov put them one up. And they sealed the deal when Martin Jakubko stretched out a leg for the second.

An unlikely win for Khimki, but a crucial one, as it lifts them out of the bottom zone, while Loko remain without a home victory since May 10.

Saturn Moscow Region 0 Spartak Moscow 0

The arrival of star coach Michael Laudrup doesn’t seem to have improved Spartak’s poor form.  The Moscow side, which was second in the table in the middle of summer, has slipped to 7th place after a dull match with Saturn.

Luch-Energia Vladivostok 0 Tom Tomsk 0

Tom grabbed one point from the long trip to Vladivostok in Russia’s Far East. Luch just didn’t have the energy to break through the guest’s tight defence.