Spartak and Rostov on Cup trail

Debut goal 
Spartak struggled to overcome First Division opponents FC Sokol Saratov, but goals from Brazilian debutant Robert, Maxym Kalinichenko, and Roman Pavlyuchenko sealed a 3-2 victory. Andrei Fedkov and Artem Cheladinsky replied for Sokol. Rostov defeated another First Division side, FC Khimki, with a single Milos Kruscic goal. However, it was goalkeeper Ilya Bliznyuk who took the plaudits with a number of fine saves.

Shoot-out exit
Top-flight outfits FC Saturn Moskovskaya Oblast and FC Krylya Sovetov Samara did not fare so well, both being eliminated in penalty shoot-outs by lower league teams. Saturn went out to FC Lada Togliatti 4-3 after being held to a goalless draw while Krylya Sovetov were beaten 4-2 on spot-kicks by FC Anzhi Makhachkala after coming from a goal down to draw 1-1.

Semi-final dates
The semi-finals will be played on 21 May with cup favourites Spartak away to Togliatti and Rostov travelling to Anzhi.