MOSCOW, July 21 (RIA Novosti) - Reigning Russian champions Rubin extended their lead at the top of the Russian Premier League on Friday with a 2-0 win over Spartak Nalchik in Kazan.
Turkish international Gokdeniz Karadeni opened the scoring for the home side after 36 minutes, firing home with the help of a deflection off defender Alexander Amiculashvili.
The win wasn't sealed until the 89th minute, when substitute Alejandro Dominguez gave Nalchik goalkeeper Dejan Radic no chance with a penalty into the left corner.
The win keeps up the pressure on the chasing pack, with Spartak Moscow now four points behind playing Kuban at home and FC Moskva, also on 27 points, facing a difficult game in Grozny against Terek.
Last season's runners-up, CSKA Moscow, will need to beat Tom Tomsk to bring the gap to the top back to four points and ease the pressure on Brazilian manager Zico.
The loss means Spartak Nalchik could finish the weekend bottom of the table, if Khimki manage at least a point at home to Dynamo Moscow on Sunday.
Dynamo, who share Khimki's stadium, will be back in the north Moscow suburb on Wednesday when Scottish side Celtic visit hoping to overturn a 1-0 deficit from the first leg of their UEFA Champions League third qualifying round tie.
Result
Rubin 2-0 Spartak Nalchik
Fixtures
August 1
Tom Tomsk vs. CSKA Moscow
Spartak Moscow vs. Kuban
Terek vs. FC Moskva
August 2
Amkar vs. Krylya Sovetov
Khimki vs. Dynamo Moscow
Saturn vs. Zenit St. Petersburg
Lokomotiv Moscow vs. Rostov
Table (15 matches unless stated)
Rubin - 31 (16 matches)
Spartak Moscow - 27
FC Moskva - 27
CSKA Moscow - 24
Dynamo Moscow - 24
Zenit St. Petersburg - 23
Krylya Sovetov - 21
Terek - 21
Saturn - 19
Lokomotiv Moscow - 19
Rostov - 19
Tom Tomsk - 17
Amkar - 15
Kuban - 15
Spartak Nalchik - 11 (16 matches)
Khimki - 10
