Published: 18 July, 2009, 18:09
Edited: 18 July, 2009, 18:09
CSKA Moscow have proven they are the most difficult rivals for Rubin Kazan as they beat the defending champions for the third time this season.
CSKA have already triumphed over Kazan in Russia’s SuperCup and the final of Russian Cup, and now they did it on Match Day 14 of the Premier League.
The strengths were evenly-matched in the first half, but Rubin stepped on the gas after the return from the half-time break.
The defending champs and league leaders locked the Army Men in their box, earning one corner after another.
And their pressure soon paid off. CSKA keeper Igor Akinfeev was beaten after another cross and Christian Noboa was getting ready to put the ball into the empty net, but was brought down on the grass by Deividas Šemberas.
Despite emotional objections from the visitors, the ref awarded a penalty, which substitute Alejandro Domínguez converted at 55 minutes, making it 1-0.
Rubin continued their attacks, providing their fans with hope that the CSKA curse would finally be broken. The visitors’ equalizer came as a complete shock to them.
The Muscovites’ defender, Sergey Ignashevich, was left completely unmarked two meters away from goal after Kazan messed up the off-side trap following a free-kick. It turned 1-1 after an easy header from the Russian international at 76 minutes.
And the visitors took full advantage of Rubin’s confusion. Just three minutes later, striker Wagner Love had CSKA flying high after a corner, putting them in the lead at 2-1.
The hosts never had a chance to save the game in the remaining minutes, while the Moscow team created a lot of danger in counter attack.
Despite the loss, Rubin still remain on top of the Premier League, while CSKA are now 4 points behind with 23 points.
Dinamo found out their Champions League opponents on Friday – Celtic Glasgow. But coming out for the Spartak Nalchik clash, they were focused on the Premier League.
The blue-and-whites were in search of their first win since June. However, in the first half Dinamo didn't look like the elite European club they're aiming to become.
Lack of accuracy in passing did not allow them to create any major threat, while the visitors took full advantage of their only chance of the half.
Kazbek Geteriev was brought down in the box, and Leandro made no mistake from the spot to give Spartak a 1-0 lead on the stroke of the half-time.
However, in the second half, Dinamo upped the tempo and started to create chances.
But Dinamo fans had to wait until the 80th minute to see their side level matters. As a series of corners eventually led to a goal for captain Dmitry Khokhlov.
And an inspired Dinamo stole the win five minutes later through Luke Wilkshire, with one his firm crosses, which was brilliantly headed in by Aleksandr Kerzhakov.
2-1 was the way it finished. But Dinamo will certainly need a better perfomance against Celtic if they're to proceed to the next round of the Champions League.
Elsewhere, Saturn took another step away from the dropzone after a 4-0 drubbing of new boys Rostov on home turf.
First, Dmitry Loskov curved in a beautiful free-kick to put the hosts one up 16 minutes in.
Then Pyotr Nemov found himself on the end of a tricky combination: Aleksey Ivanov back-heeled the ball to set up goal number two, right before half-time.
And finally, a double by Dmitry Kirichenko in the second half put the score beyond any doubt.
A mere seven minutes separated his two goals as Saturn handed Rostov their biggest defeat of the season.