Russia round-up: Torpedo denied by Rostselmash

FC Torpedo Moscow suffered a shock 1-0 home defeat by struggling FC Rostselmash Rostov-na-Donu today in the first ever Russian Premier-Liga match played on fourth-generation astroturf.

Synthetic surface
Moscow's 84,000-capacity Luzhniki stadium installed the latest version of the synthetic surface during the FIFA World Cup break after receiving UEFA's permission to play international matches on astroturf. Torpedo struggled to adapt to the new surface and to assert themselves in attack, while Rostselmash soaked up the pressure from the hosts before Andrey Akopiants struck the only goal after 51 minutes.

Keeper dismissed
Elsewhere, SC Rotor Volgograd denied FC Krylya Sovetov Samara, who had goalkeeper Alexei Polyakov sent off after 17 minutes for intentionally handling the ball outside his penalty area, an opportunity to close the gap on leaders FC Lokomotiv Moscow with a 2-0 victory.

Saturn take advantage
FC Saturn took advantage of Samara's defeat to move into third position on 22 points, despite being held to a 0-0 draw by bottom-of-the-table FC Sokol Saratov. FC Zenit St Petersburg beat Alania Vladikavkaz 2-1 to leapfrog Samara into fourth place on goal difference.

Lost ground
On Monday, Lokomotiv lost ground to their city rivals CSKA Moscow after being held to a 0-0 draw by lowly FC Anzhi Makhachkala, but remained top of the table with 30 points from 13 matches. Second-placed CSKA beat FC Shinnik Yaroslavl 2-0 to move within two points of the leaders with a game in hand. Defending champions FC Spartak Moscow return to league action on Wednesday when they take on city rivals FC Torpedo-ZIL Moscow.