End of an era: Andre Tikhonov

Dynamo won again, Zenit toppled CSKA at the top, while Spartak hero Andrei Tikhonov called time on a 20-year career as Samuel Eto’o’s Anzhi fired a blank in week 24 of the RPL.

RUBIN KAZAN 2 – 3 ZENIT ST. PETERSBURG

Bibras Nathko put Rubin ahead on eight minutes slotting home from the spot before Kislyak put the Ruby two-up, finishing well from long range while Zenit keeper, Malafeev, lay injured. The referee saw no foul and the goal stood.

Roman Shirokov pulled a goal back for Zenit after 28 minutes before a second-half brace from Danny completed an impressive reverse for Zenit. The win took Zenit to the top of the RPL while Rubin dropped to eighth.

ROSTOV 1 – 1 CSKA MOSCOW

The Armymen have not won since goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev was stretchered off during their draw against Spartak three games ago, and came into this encounter after a drubbing by city-rivals Dynamo.

And it was stand-in goalie, Gabulov, who was too easily beaten by Kruglov’s long-range free-kick to allow Rostov to take the lead after just five minutes.

But disastrous defending from Rostov allowed Seydou Doumbia to equalise for CSKA – and become the RPL’s top-scorer on 14 goals – after 65 minutes. CSKA slip to third and Rostov stay thirteenth.

DYNAMO MOSCOW 3 – 0 AMKAR PERM

Spectacular mid-season form has seen Dynamo win eight of their last ten games, scoring 17 times in their last five alone.

Clever play between Kuranyi and Yusupov allowed Voronin to thump-in the opening goal from the edge of the box after 10 minutes. Igor Semshov then finished a slick move on 60 minutes to put Dynamo two-up and notch his tenth of the campaign.

Pavel Nekhaychik looped-in a header from Luke Wilkshire’s cross,with four minutes remaining, to seal the win. Dynamo leapfrog into second place while Perm slip to twelfth.

KUBAN KRASNODAR 1 – 0 ANZHI MAKHACHKALA

Gigel Bucur should have already put Kuban ahead before his super-strike ensured Dan Petrescu’s newly-promoted side picked up all three points at the expense of Samuel Eto’o’s new employers. So Anzhi fall to seventh while Kuban climb to sixth.

TEREK GROZNY 0 – 4 LOKOMOTIV MOSCOW

Loko made it four wins on the spin with Glushakov putting the them two-up by half-time with Glushakov converting two clear penalties.

Ex-City flop, Felipe Caicedo, raced onto a dreadful back-pass to score Loko’s third after 47 minutes and Maicon finished things off on 88 minutes. Loko are fifth, Terek drop to eleventh.

SPARTAK MOSCOW 3 – 0 KRYLIYA SOVETOV SAMARA

This encounter was all about Andrei Tikhonov, the Spartak legend who made his farewell appearance in pro-football aged 40.

Signing-off against a former employer, Tikhonov was installed on the left of midfield and after three minutes his pass released Emenike into the left side of Samara’s box before he found new-boy, Demy de Zeeuw, who finished emphatically.

Spartak were dominant and Tikhonov again provided a goal as his cross was met by ex-Celtic man, Aiden McGeady, who volleyed in the Meat’s second on 28 minutes.

On the stroke of half-time Tikhonov was substituted to a rousing reception from the 31,466 fans after starring in the last half of football in his professional career.

The second 45 saw Kryliya transformed but they could not find a way back into the game and Emenike wrapped things up after 81 minutes with a fine solo effort. Spartak are in fourth place, Kryliya sixteenth.

TOM TOMSK 0 – 4 FC KRASNODAR

Kuban’s city-rivals hammered Siberia’s only top-flight team courtesy of goals from Joaozinho, Erokhin, Movsisyan and Rui Miguel. The decisive win keeps Krasnodar ninth, Tomsk are fourteenth.

VOLGA NIZHNY NOVGOROD 1 – 0 SPARTAK NALCHIK

Malyarov scored the only goal of the game, from close range with six minutes remaining on the clock, to seal a late win for Volga. Volga lie in tenth while Nalchik prop up the table.