Russia round-up: Lokomotiv extend lead
Monday, May 13, 2002
Article summary
FC Lokomotiv Moscow are four points clear at the top of the Russian Premier-Liga.
Article body
FC Lokomotiv Moscow are four points clear at the top of the Russian Premier-Liga following a 3-0 home victory over SC Rotor Volgograd today.
Early goal
Narvik Sirkhayev set the ball rolling for Lokomotiv after just 90 seconds before Vadim Yevseyev and Maxim Buznikin finished off Rotor with a goal apiece in the final three minutes. The victory provided a welcome gift for long-serving Lokomotiv coach Yuri Syomin, who celebrated his 55th birthday on Saturday.
Four-point lead
Victory put Lokomotiv on 29 points from 12 matches, giving them a four-point lead over rivals CSKA Moscow. It was the last round of matches in the Russian league before a seven-week break over the 2002 FIFA World Cup finals.
Match postponed
CSKA's game against FC Rostselmash Rostov-Na-Donu was postponed until August after their players went on holiday a day early following their 2-0 win over FC Zenit St. Petersburg in Sunday's Russian Cup final.
Krylya on the up
Elsewhere today, Krylya Sovetov Samara eased past FC Anzhi Makhachkala 4-0 to move into third place on 21 points thanks to a better goal difference over FC Saturn Ramenskoye, who lost 3-1 at home to FC Torpedo-ZIL Moscow.
Two wins in a row
Champions Spartak Moscow earned their second straight come-from-behind victory after three consecutive defeats to ease into fifth spot with 20 points. After a controversial 2-1 win over Saturn last week, Spartak beat bottom-of-the-table FC Sokol Saratov by the same score. Ukrainian international Dmitry Parfyonov clinched the three points for Spartak in the 57th minute when he beat Sokol keeper Yevgeny Plotnikov with a long-range effort.
