07.10.2018 20:48 h

Zenit stretch lead to six points as Real Madrid conquerors CSKA crash

Zenit St Petersburg opened up a six-point lead in the Russian Premier League on Sunday when they defeated 10-man Krasnodar 2-1 while CSKA Moscow were beaten by city rivals Lokomotiv, just days after stunning Real Madrid in the Champions League.

Artem Dzyuba and Slovakian midfielder Robert Mak scored Zenit's goals against a Krasnodar side who remain second with Rostov, who suffered a 1-0 home defeat by Orenburg on Saturday, one point further back alongside Spartak Moscow.

Dzyuba gave Zenit the lead in the 50th minute to the delight of the majority of the 52,500 crowd when he headed the ball into the net from a left-wing cross by Sebastian Driussi.

Mak added the second in the 65th minute, hammering the ball in from close range.

Pavel Mamaev halved the deficit from the penalty spot with nine minutes to go but Krasnodar's hopes of a fightback were shattered in the 85th minute when right back Sergei Petrov was sent-off for a professional foul.

"We gave Krasnodar too much space in the first half," Mak told Russian TV. "But after the break we were in complete control."

CSKA, who shocked Real Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday, came back to earth with a bump when they were defeated 1-0 by Lokomotiv who played the last 25 minutes with 10 men.

Reigning champions Lokomotiv had Portuguese forward Eder red-carded in the 65th minute but still snatched victory with two minutes left when Benedikt Hoewedes secured the three points.

Spartak made a gruelling 7,000km round-trip to Krasnoyarsk but still claimed three points with a 3-2 win at Yenisei.

Mikhail Ignatov put the Muscovites into the lead two minutes after the interval following a corner from Fernando.

Yenisei defender Rade Dugalic levelled four minutes later with a header from a corner.

Cape Verde international striker Ze Luis restored Spartak's lead from the penalty spot just before the hour mark but nine minutes later the hosts were also awarded a penalty of their own which Valery Kichin converted for 2-2.

Artem Timofeyev netted Spartak's winner in the third minute of injury time after goalkeeper Mikhail Filippov could only parry a Fernando free-kick.