A 70th-minute strike from Hungarian midfielder Tamas Priskin saved newly promoted Alania Vladikavkaz from a home defeat against Amkar Perm, as the teams played a 1-1 draw in the Russian Premier League game on Saturday.

The result leaves both Amkar and Alania stuck in the middle of the table with nine and eight points respectively. Their closest rivals are to play seventh-round matches Sunday.

Amkar striker Pavel Ignatovich opened the scoring on 35 minutes with a header into the distant corner from a pinpoint cross by Estonia midfielder Konstantin Vasiliev.

Priskin equalized with another header after Brazilian striker Diego Mauricio outplayed Amkar's Serbian defender Nikola Mijailovic on the right wing and squared it to the Hungarian in the area.

Earlier Saturday, Terek Grozny continued their astonishing start with a 2-1 away win over 10-man Rubin Kazan thanks to a late winner from Magomed Mitrishev; and a late equalizer from striker Alexei Sapogov gave 10-man FC Volga a 1-1 draw against FC Rostov.

In Friday's only game, Zenit secured a 3-0 away victory against newly promoted Mordovia Saransk with striker Alexander Kerzhakov bagging a brace.

Zenit and Terek share the lead with 16 points, the champions ahead only on goal difference.

On Sunday, Lokomotiv Moscow clash with Spartak in the game of the day, while FC Krasnodar meet CSKA Moscow.

Elsewhere, Dan Petrescu’s Dynamo Moscow face his former team FC Kuban and Krylya Sovetov Samara host Anzhi Makhachkala.