Zenit face technical defeat after breaking selection rules

Reigning champions Zenit face a 3-0 technical defeat and a fine after breaking selection rules in their 1-1 draw at home to CSKA Moscow.

The central game of the weekend saw the Muscovites take the lead through Mark Gonzalez, before Zenit equalized at the break through Konstantin Zyryanov.

But the 1-1 draw could now be turned into a three-nil technical defeat for the St. Petersburg side.

The rules require each team to have at least one player under 22 years of age in their squad – something Zenit failed to do for the CSKA clash.

The League's Control and Disciplinary Committee will discuss the matter on Wednesday.

Zenit coach Luciano Spalletti said he broke the rules because he wanted to try out players coming back from injury.

His side escaped a technical defeat last year after fielding one foreign player too many against Lokomotiv.

So, Zenit has failed to reclaim the top spot on Wednesday, regardless of whether they keep that point.

Volga 3-1 Rostov

It's the rookies Volga, who are the surprise leaders in the Russian Premier League now.

They beat Rostov 3-1 on Rostov’s home turf.

Midfielder Gocha Hodzhava put the visitors ahead, and after the break Anton Khazov slid in to make it 2-0.

Then an excellent piece of individual skill saw Sanzhar Tursunov make it 3-0, with 15 minutes to go.

Aizek Okoronkwo exploited some defensive confusion to get one goal back.

Then, Hodzhava's day was spoiled as he saw a red card for a second yellow with eight minutes to go. But his Volga side went to the top, while Rostov slipped to ninth.

Rubin 0-0 Spartak Nalchik

It was not a good day for Rubin, who missed the chance to go to the top themselves after a goalless draw at home to Spartak Nalchik.

Roman Kontsedalov went close to scoring for Spartak. Then Rubin's Vladimir Dyadun missed his certain opportunity to score.

But the main talking point came with seven minutes to go, when Christian Noboa got a red card for the Kazan side for perhaps a harsh second booking.

Rubin stays fourth, Nalchik are up to eighth.

Spartak Moscow 0-0 Terek

Spartak Moscow were held by Ruud Gullits Terek at the Luzhniki Arena.

The home side dominated throughout, but failed to convert any scoring oppurtunities.

And that means more pressure will be piled on coach Valery Karpin, who said he would go if asked to after last week's 3-1 shocking defeat at Kuban.

Spartak now languish in the relegation zone four games into the season.