A controversial stoppage-time penalty decision handed Spartak Moscow a 2-1 victory over FC Volga in the Russian Premier League on Sunday.

Dmitry Kombarov converted the penalty, which was awarded after Spartak’s Brazilian striker Ari went to ground in the penalty area after apparently making little contact with defender Nikolai Zaitsev.

A 25-yard free-kick from former Celtic midfielder Aiden McGeady brought Spartak level on 69 minutes as the Ireland international scored in a Spartak shirt for the first time since November.

Volga had earlier taken the lead on the counter through Alexei Sapogov, who raised hopes that the team could pull off the same sort of unlikely victory they achieved in their season-opening game against Spa

“In principle yes, but they should have made more of their chances,” Volga coach Gadzhi Gadzhiev said, when asked whether he was satisfied with his players in televised comments.

Volga had just three shots in the entire match, compared to Spartak’s 20, but Spartak strikers Emmanuel Emenike and Artem Dzyuba made little of their chances early on as Volga goalkeeper Ilya Abaev coped well.

The result means that Spartak join reigning champions Zenit St. Petersburg and their Moscow rivals Lokomotiv as the third team on six points after two wins in two games for new coach Unai Emery, formerly of Valencia.

Later Sunday, big-spending Anzhi visit FC Rostov.

Earlier, Bibras Natkho scored twice as Rubin Kazan inflicted a 2-0 defeat on Alania Vladikavkaz.

In Saturday’s action, reigning champions Zenit St. Petersburg ensured they stayed at the top of the table with a 2-0 win over Dynamo Moscow, while Amkar Perm stunned CSKA Moscow 3-1 and Lokomotiv Moscow beat Krylya Sovetov 2-0.

Dan Petrescu’s FC Kuban had earlier beaten Mordovia Saransk 1-0 on Friday.