The exciting action continued in the RPL as Zenit St. Petersburg stopped their slide down the ladder by beating Kuban Krasnador.
The Moscow city derby between Lokomotiv and Spartak was a slaughter as the Railway boys triumphed, and the game between the teams in equal second, Kryliya Sovetov and FC Moscow, finished in a draw. CSKA beat Rubin on Sunday 1-0 to defend their Russian Cup title.
What You Should Know About The RPL
As of 2008, the RPL champions qualify for the UEFA Champions League group stage, as well as the runners-up. The third-placed team qualifies for the Champions League second qualifying round. The fourth- and fifth-place teams qualify for the newly named UEFA Europa League. The bottom two teams are relegated to the First Division.Unlike other European football leagues, the league typically runs in summer, from March to November, to avoid playing games under the cold and snowy weather in winter.
Top & Bottom
European Places
Rubin Kazan 21pts; Kryliya Sovetov (Samara), FC Moscow 20pts; CSKA Moscow 19pts; Dinamo Moscow 19pts; Zenit St. Petersburg 18pts.
Relegation Places
Spartak Nalchick 7pts; FC Khimki 4pts.
Top Scorers
Wellington (Spartak Moscow) 7 goals; Alex (Spartak Moscow), A. Kerzakhov (Dinamo), Dominguez (Rubin Kazan), Sergey Kornilenko (Tom Tomsk) 5 goals; Pavel Pogrebnyak (Zenit), M Jakubko (FC Moscow), Jan Koller (K.Sovetov), S Semak (Rubin) 4 goals.
Friday
Amkar Perm0-2 Saturn Moscow
The newspapers in Saturn would be running the headline: “Aliens lift off the bottom” and “Saturn runs rings around Amkar” after goals to Vladimir Kuzmichev in the 30th minute and one to former Russian international striker Dmitri Kirichenko on 61 minutes gave the Aliens a much needed 2-0 win.
The victory at Amkar Perm’s home ground the Svezda Stadium in front of 11, 000 fans took Saturn and their rings out of the relegation positions and into 13th place, three points clear of Spartak Nalchick although they have a game in hand.
Form Guide- Last Five Games:
The Aliens – LDDDW
Points: 10 Position: 13th
Amkar Perm – LDDLL
Points: 8 Position: 14th
Saturday
Tom Tomsk 2–3 Dinamo Moscow
The 12,000 at the Trud stadium saw a high scoring entertaining affair as Dynamo Moscow surged back into contention with a 3-2 win.
Dinamo took their good form with them after beating Zenit last week and they burst out of the blocks with goals to newly recalled Russian international Alexander Kerzhakov who scored with a perfectly curved free-kick just nine minutes into the game.
Then another goal came three minutes later to left midfielder Dmitri Kombarov who slotted home from close range after an assist by brother Kirill.
With halftime approaching it was Dmitry’s turn to assist. With another defence-splitting cross Kerzhakov made it 3-0, the 25 year old scoring his fifth of the season.
It was as they say a game of two halves and Tom Tomsk obliged the saying with goals to their Belarus striker Sergey Kornilenko. The first came in the 65th minute with a header and the 25year old got his second with a 73rd minute penalty, the Belarusian taking his tally for the season to five goals.
The Blue and Whites move up to fifth and are only two points off leader Rubin, although the Kazan side does have a game in hand.
Form Guide- Last Five Games:
Tom Tomsk- WLDDL
Points: 12 Position: 12th
Dynamo Moscow–WLDWW
Points: 19 Position: 5th
Rostov-Na-Donu 1-1 Terek Grozny
Rostov and Terek could only manage a draw at the SKA SKVO Stadium in front of a 9,000 strong support.
The Chechen side open the scoring through 29 year old midfielder Shamil Lakhiyalov who got the first goal on 26 minutes.Maxim Astafiev equalised for Rostov on 55 minutes
Rostov has not won a game in six attempts while Terek add this away draw to their first win in eight games against FC Khimki during matchday 10.
Form Guide- Last Five Games:
Rostov-Na -Donu - LDDLD
Points: 15, Position: 7th
Terek Grozny - LDLWD
Points: 13 Position: 10th
Zenit St Petersburg 2-0 Kuban Krasnodar
A good crowd 20,000 at the Petrovski Stadium 20,000 saw goals to 31 year old Igor Semshov in the 38th minute and another just before the halftime break to Konstatin Zurianov give Zenit a much needed 2-0 win over the Canaries of Kuban.
After Zenit lost their last two games both away to CSKA and Dinamo Moscow, and with news that Coach Dick Advocatt was leaving to join Belgium as head coach, the club was headed for a mini-crisis until they beat the Kubansty.
Zenit are now three points behind leaders Rubin.
Form Guide- Last Five Games:
Zenit St Petersburg -WLWLL
Points: 18 Position 6th
FC Kuban Krasnodar - DDDLW
Points: 12, Position: 11th
Lokomotiv Moscow 2-1 Spartak Moscow
Somewhat of an upset as the old city rivals Lokomotiv and Spartak Moscow clashed at the Lokomtiv Stadium in front of 28,000 Moscowvites.
Eleven yellow and three red cards were shown on Saturday, with one Russian news agency calling the game a slaughter.
The Railway Boys opened the scoring on 22 minutes trough their Brazilian defender Bentas Rodolfo. The youngster Aleksandr Milchenkov then doubled the lead for the Railways Men, the 20 year old netting on 37minutes.
An exciting finish to the first half culminated with in form Brazilian Alex makeing the score 2-1 at the break
The Lokomotiv fans had an anxious wait as 25 year old striker Dmitri Sychev got his marching orders with a red card in the 51st minute and so did second half substitute Brazilian striker Fininho late on.
The red cards where being handed out like confetti at a 21st birthday party, and Pereira Rafael Carioca for Spartak also was sent off in the 80th minute.
The game was the first at the helm for Loko’s old-new coach Yury Semin, who returned back to Moscow after a triumphant season at Dynamo Kiev.
Form Guide- Last Five Games:
Lokomotiv Moscow – WDWLW
Points: 16 Position: 8th
Spartak Moscow – LWDWL
Points: 17 Position: 7th
Kryliya Sovetov (Samara) 1-1 FC Moscow
It was equal second taking on equal second in this top of the table clash.
Two goals in the first 20 mins had the fans at the Metallurg Stadium in Samara on the edge of their seats.
Alexander Samedov opened the scoring for FC Moscow, the 24 year old netting in the10th minute Jan Koller got one back for the home side six minutes later.
However both sides failed to take the opportunity to go top with a win, the draw favouring Rubin and CSKA.
Form Guide- Last Five Games:
Kryliya Sovetov (Samara) - LLWWD
Points: 20 Position: 2nd
FC Moscow – WDDWD
Points: 20, Position: 3rd
RPL Top Performer:
Top performer of Matchday 11 is newly recalled Russian international Alexander Kerzhakov, with two goals against Tom Tomsk.
RPL Odd Spot:
The game between Amkar Perm and Saturn Moscow saw an instrumental version of Stevie Wonders “I just called to say I love you” played before the game. The RPL update thinks that is not the most intimidating music you can play before a football game.
Dasvidania, till next week.
Con Stamocostas, Goal.com
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