Russia round-up: Play-off to decide title

The Russian Premier-Liga championship will go to a play-off after FC Lokomotiv Moskva and PFC CSKA Moskva finished level on points at the top following the final round of fixtures.

Loskov winner
Lokomotiv, chasing their first-ever title, survived a scare in Moscow as they faced city rivals FC Dinamo Moskva. UEFA Champions League second group stage qualifiers Lokomotiv went ahead through Vadim Evseev with a long-range effort on 38 minutes, but Andrei Demkin levelled before the break. However, Dmitri Loskov was on target after half-time to secure the win.

'Gave it all they had'
Following the victory, Lokomotiv coach Yuri Semin, who also saw his side beat Club Brugge KV on Wednesday to progress in the Champions League, said: "Both teams gave it all they had. I was very worried the players will not recover after a very tough game against Brugge in the Champions League, but my worries, thankfully, proved to be unfounded."

Gussev sets up CSKA
CSKA had a more comfortable time as they beat FC Saturn Moskovskaya Oblast 3-0. Rolan Gussev set up Latvian international Juris Laizans for the first goal, and then scored himself and went on to set up Dmitri Kirichenko for the third. The venue and date for the play-off are yet to be decided, although it is likely that the match will be played on Thursday in either Moscow or Rostov.

Relegation for Sokol and Anzhi
FC Sokol Saratov are relegated and finished in last place with a 3-0 loss at the hands of FC Shinnik Yaroslavl, while FC Torpedo-ZIL Moskva stayed up thanks to a 2-0 victory against FC Rostselmash Rostov-Na-Donu, meaning FC Anzhi Makhachkala also drop a division, despite beating FC Uralan Elista to move off the bottom of the standings.

Spartak loss
Third-placed FC Spartak Moskva, denied the title for the first time since 1995, ended their season with a 1-0 defeat by FC Torpedo Moskva, who ended fourth and could claim a UEFA Cup place. FC Krylya Sovetov Samara finished fifth after beating FC Zenit St. Peterburg 2-1 and SC Rotor Volgograd overcame FC Alania Vladikavkaz 1-0.