MOSCOW, November 9 (RIA Novosti) - Rubin Kazan took a massive step toward retaining their Russian Premier League title with a 2-0 win over CSKA Moscow on Sunday, a day after second-placed Spartak Moscow had lost 2-1 to Krilya Sovetov.
Rubin had lost twice to CSKA this season, in the league and in the Russian Cup final in May, but were clinical in the capital, striking after sustained pressure from the former Red Army side.
In the 67th minute, a free-kick from Alejandro Dominguez avoided everyone to come to rest in the back of Igor Akinfeev's net, the rumored Manchester United target losing track of the ball amid a crowd of players. Rubin's second goal came with a minute on the clock, Alexander Bukharov chipping Akinfeev from distance for his 16th goal of the season, drawing him level with Dominguez.
The win means that Rubin are now four points clear of Spartak with two games to go. Victory against Zenit St. Petersburg in Kazan on November 21 will seal the title for the Tatarstan club. CSKA slip to sixth, one place off a 2010/11 Europa League spot.
Spartak Moscow went into Saturday's match against Krilya Sovetov in Samara knowing that a win would lift them, at least temporarily, into first place. But an own goal from Austrian defender Martin Stranzl and a goalkeeping howler from Soslan Dzhanaev gave the home side a two-goal cushion by the 14th minute, and the Muscovites struggled to get back in the game.
Brazilian midfielder Alex eventually pulled one back in injury time, but it was too little too late for the Moscow club, who now face arch-rivals CSKA on November 21.
In other matches, third-placed Zenit St. Petersburg beat Terek Grozny 2-0 at home to move two points clear of Lokomotiv Moscow and FC Moskva in the race for the final Champions League spot. After travelling to Kazan, Andrey Arshavin's old club face Spartak Moscow at home in their final match of the season.
A thunderous free kick deep into injury time from Dmitry Sychev, recalled by national team coach Guus Hiddink for the November 14-18 World Cup play-off against Slovenia, sealed victory for Lokomotiv against Urals side Amkar and lifted the club into fifth.
At the wrong end of the table, south Russia's Kuban had to settle for a point in their bid to escape the relegation zone, drawing 3-3 with FC Moskva at home. However, with their final game at home to leaders Rubin, Kuban look unlikely to be able to overtake Spartak Nalchik, who lead them by four points. Two sides go down.
Results November 7-8
Lokomotiv Moscow 1-0 Amkar
Spartak Nalchik 2-4 Dynamo Moscow
CSKA Moscow 0-2 Rubin
Zenit St. Petersburg 2-0 Terek
Khimki 1-3 Tom Tomsk
Rostov 1-2 Saturn
Kuban 3-3 FC Moskva
Krilya Sovetov 2-1 Spartak Moscow
Table (after 28 games)
Rubin 59
Spartak Moscow 55
Zenit St. Petersburg 50
FC Moskva 48
Lokomotiv Moscow 48
CSKA Moscow 46
Saturn 42
Dynamo Moscow 39
Krylya Sovetov 36
Tom Tomsk 35
Terek 33
Rostov 31
Amkar 29
Spartak Nalchik 29
Kuban 25
Khimki 10
