Rubin sign-off in style, Spartak splutter again and Zenit triumph as Sychev hits 100.
ZENIT ST.PETERSBURG 2 – 1 SPARTAK MOSCOW
Though many suspected Spartak’s players would lack motivation knowing second place was already assured, defeat here was more attributable to Zenit knowing that the final Champions League spot (third round qualifiers) was being coveted by three others – Moscow’s Lokomotiv, CSKA, and FC Moscow.
The Red-Whites, missing creative youngsters Zhano and Yakovlev, struggled to unpick Zenit despite being reduced to ten before halftime after Huszti received a second booking for taking a freekick too quickly after just 43mins.
The match, fired by a city rivalry akin to Manchester United – Liverpool, was already feisty, but experienced Russia international Konstantin Zyryanov kept cool to slot the freekick home while others still raged.
Lombaerts doubled the lead before Malik Fathi scored a consolation goal seven minutes before time. Despite a late wobble, Spartak looked increasingly like a team worthy of their great history and, with CSKA in turmoil, will fancy themselves as Rubin’s contenders again next year.
FC KHIMKI 1 – 3 LOKOMOTIV MOSCOW
Making the win sweeter for the Petersburgers was the fact that it meant Loko were denied third (on goal difference) in spite of their victory.
Goals from Odemwingie and Sychev put the visitors two up before Aleksandr Antipenko pulled one back for the side with the worst points total in RPL history.
Sychev then netted a second, his eleventh overall, to put the result beyond doubt and enter the Sport Express 100 Club – a list of all the Russian players who have scored 100 or more times in their careers, in all competitions.
Though disappointed to miss out on third, the Railway Men will be happy with a Europa League place, especially as they looked destined for mid-table anonymity after the first nine rounds.
CSKA 3 – 0 SATURN MOSCOW OBLAST
The Army Men followed up last weekend’s derby-day win and the stunning Champions League comeback against Wolfsburg by trouncing the Aliens.
The brilliant Krasic set up Dzagoev for the opener after 33mins before scoring himself on 58mins. Mamaev hit the third after good work from the equally promising Schennikov to ensure a fifth-place finish and Europa League football next term.
FC MOSCOW 1 – 2 DYNAMO MOSCOW
Another derby in the race for third place was also a bad tempered affair. Just three minutes after Vukic was shown a straight red, his side fell behind to Kirill Komabarov’s spectacular 30m strike.
Dynamo, for once, could field a near full-strength team and it proved too much for Moscow, who knew they still had to risk all for a win despite being a man down.
Inevitably, Dynamo went two-up through Fernandez after 35mins. Kolodin’s own goal just before halftime only gave the Citizens, who finish sixth, false hope. Dynamo finish eighth.
ELSEWHERE…
Even after sealing the great escape last weekend, they’ll still be dancing in the streets of the Kabardino-Balkar Republic in southern Russia as Yuri Krasnozhan’s boys stuffed their Chechen neighbours 4-2. Nalchik, then, finish in an incredible eleventh place, while Terek make do with twelfth.
Rostov and Perm (who were fourth last season) ended 1-1, finishing fourteenth and thirteenth respectively while Tom’ Tomsk thumped relegated Kuban 1-3 to claim ninth.
FINALLY
Rubin marked the end of a remarkable campaign with an emphatic 0-3 away win over relegated Kuban. Despite resting six first-teamers, the champs were ahead after 9mins through Kabze. After Murawski scored number two on 32mins, Berdyev blooded a number of youngsters, one of whom, Igor Portnyagin, scored his first ever Rubin goal with nine minutes remaining. It was a reminder that Rubin will, again, be the team to beat when we do it all again next March.
Do’vstrechi!!