Dynamo regain winning ways, Zenit suffer first loss

Dynamo Moscow have put an end to their five-game losing streak in the Russian Premier League, while table toppers Zenit St. Petersburg suffered their first defeat.

­Lokomotiv Moscow 2-3 Dynamo Moscow

Dynamo’s new boss Dan Petrescu was guiding his team by phone from the stands as the Romanian is on a six-match ban for assaulting a referee at the end of last season.

But the difficulties in communication didn’t prevent his players from producing their best football of the season.

Lokomotiv managed to come back twice before a header from Christian Noboa in the 68th minute sealed the deal for Dynamo.

Aleksandr Kokorin and Balazs Dzsudzsak were instrumental for the winners on the day, each coming up with a goal and assist.

“We won. It’s such a long-awaited success,” Dmitry Khokhlov, a member of Dynamo’s coaching staff, told Sport-Express newspaper. “I think it’ll become boost for us both mentally and physically. It was a very important game for us.”

Dynamo leave last place in the standings, while Lokomotiv may lose their fourth spot to CSKA and Anzhi, who are yet to play their games.

Dynamo's head coach Dan Petrescu at the Russian Premiere League Championship 6th round match FC Lokomotiv vs. FC Dynamo. (RIA Novosti/Alexander Vilf)

­Zenit St. Petersburg 1-2 Rubin Kazan

Rubin did it in the Super Cup and they’ve done it again in the league, delivering the defending champions their maiden loss of the season.

Zenit were 1-0 up after the opening 45 minutes at the home Petrovsky stadium, thanks to a header from Viktor Faizulin.

But Rubin needed less than 10 minutes in the second half to turn things around.

Bebars Natcho made it 1-1 by converting a penalty in the 52nd minute.

The Israeli midfielder caught up with Alania’s Danilo Neco on top of the scorers’ race with five goals, three of which came from the spot.

And in the 61st minute, one of Roman Eremenko’s branded long-range efforts granted Rubin all the three points on the day.

Zenit remain in the lead with 14 points after six games, but second-placed Spartak Moscow are two points behind with a game in hand.

­Terek Grozny 2-1 Spartak Moscow

Terek joined Zenit on top with 13 points in six games after collecting a home win against Spartak Moscow.

The Muscovites, who knew a win would make them sole Premier League leaders, were first to score.

Juan Manuel Insaurralde celebrated his Spartak debut with a goal during the 66th minute.

The guests played with an advantage and seemed as if they were heading for the win, but it all changed after Igor Lebedenko leveled the score with a perfect low shot on 80th minute.

The remainder of the game was nervy, with luck turning to the Chechen team in stoppage time.  

Antonio Ferreira headed past keeper Andrey Dikan following a corner to leave Spartak third in the table.