08.04.2018 21:16 h

Farfan winner keeps Lokomotiv top in Russia

Peruvian winger Jefferson Farfan grabbed Lokomotiv Moscow a 1-0 win over Rostov at the RZD Arena on Sunday to maintain their two-point lead over Spartak Moscow at the top of the Russian Premier League.

Lokomotiv also have a game in hand on second-placed Spartak, who eased to a 4-1 victory at Anzhi Makhachkala with Quincy Promes scoring a first-half hat-trick.

The hosts dominated from kick-off but failed to create many clear-cut chances against a stubborn Rostov side.

The closest they came in the first half was when midfielder Dmitry Tarasov hit the woodwork with a 24th-minute header.

But just two minutes after the interval, winger Vladislav Ignatiev found the unmarked Farfan in the area and the Peruvian headed home from close range.

"After last week's defeat to Amkar some experts hastily wrote us off. But I believe with today's win we returned into the title race," Lokomotiv head coach Yury Syomin said.

"Rostov are famous for their defensive play and it was really hard to battle through. It's a very important win for us."

Elsewhere, reigning champions Spartak got off to a quick start through Dutch international winger Promes, who tapped in a 10th-minute opener.

Four minutes later Promes made it two, firing home from the edge of the area, before completing a hat-trick inside the first half-hour to score a league-leading 13th goal of the season.

Argentinian striker Juan Lescano pulled one back for Anzhi, but Spartak full-back Ilya Kutepov restored the three-goal advantage 11 minutes after the break.

"We played quality football and capitalized on the opportunities that Anzhi gave us today," Spartak manager Massimo Carrera said.

"For us it was very important to show well-coordinated action on the pitch and of course to win. Luckily, we managed to do all that."