Russia round-up: Lokomotiv undone by Radimov

FC Lokomotiv Moscow relinquished their unbeaten record in the Russian Premier-Liga tonight after they slipped to a 1-0 defeat at Kryla Sovetov Samara.

End of a run
Lokomotiv, the league leaders, had won eight and drawn one of their opening nine matches of the season but fell to Vladislav Radimov's first-half goal. Radimov fired the ball home from nine metres out after latching on to Denis Kovba's cross after 38 minutes.

Opportunity knocks
Lokomotiv's Nigerian striker James Obiorah had his side's best chance to equalise after 66 minutes but he shot over the bar from inside the box. The defeat gave second-placed CSKA Moscow the opportunity to close the gap on Lokomotiv and they duly obliged with a 3-2 victory at city rivals FC Torpedo Moscow.

All square
Dmitri Kirichenko headed in the opener for CSKA after 37 minutes after a superb Rolan Gusev cross. The hosts drew level on the stroke of half-time with a well-worked goal, Albert Sarkisyan's low cross finding Igor Semshov who calmly controlled the ball before firing home.

Late winner
CSKA were back in front though after 71 minutes, Sergei Semak scoring from close range. The home side equalised again just six minutes later when Sergei Kormiltsev was brought down in the area and Vladimir Leonchenko converted the penalty with a cheeky lob. Just as Torpedo looked to have secured a draw, however, CSKA pinched all three points five minutes from time. Dmitri Borodin felled Gusev in the area and Semak converted the penalty to lift his side to within four points of the leaders.

Home defeat
FC Saturn, in third spot, missed their chance to make up ground, going down 2-1 at home to FC Spartak Moscow thanks to a late penalty. The match was starved of goals for most of the game, but never lacked for goalmouth action. A scramble in the Saturn penalty area ensued in the 36th minute after Moisés Moura's long-range shot was parried by Valeri Chizhov, who then saved again from Vladimir Bestchastnykh, before Dmitri Sychev scored from an offside position and had his effort disallowed.

Bad injuries
However, the incident did leave Saturn wounded as Chizhov had to be taken off with a broken nose and bruises, to be replaced by Alesandr Pomazun. Saturn opened the scoring in the 78th minute, Valeri Kechinov turning in Alesei Meleshin's header from just five yards. That lead lasted two minutes before Spartak's Igor Titov crossed brilliantly to Sychev, who scored with a cushioned header from a close range. And within four minutes Saturn were behind as Titov was brought down in the area and Bestchastnykh scored from the spot to give the three points to Spartak.

Looking up
At the foot of the table FC Sokol Saratov's woes continued as they went down 1-0 at home to Dinamo Moscow, Alesandr Panov's solitary strike keeping them bottom with only one win from 12 matches. Fortunately for them, their fellow strugglers FC Alania Vladikavkaz, FC Rostselmash Rostov-Na-Donu and FC Torpedo-ZIL Moscow all failed to record a win as well.

Five-goal thriller
Alania went down 3-2 at home to Urulan Elista despite a double strike from Dzambulad Bazaev, his second coming with just seven minutes left to set up an exciting finish. Vladimir Kazakov, Ruslan Adzhindzhal and Arsen Avakov were Urulan's goalscorers.

Score draw
Rostselmash drew 1-1 with FC Shinnik Yaroslavl, Baba Adamu cancelling out a goal from Sergei Grishin just after half-time. Torpedo-ZIL went 2-1 against FC Zenit St. Petersburg, two goals from Alesandr Kerzhakov doing the damage, while SC Rotor Volgograd and FC Anzhi Makhachkala fought out a goalless draw in Volgograd.