Felipe Caicedo scored one goal and set up a second to give Lokomotiv Moscow a 2-0 win against FC Kuban in the Russian Premier League and keep his team in the hunt for Champions League qualification.
The result moves Lokomotiv up to fifth, within two points of third-placed Dynamo Moscow, who occupy the final Champions League spot, although Dynamo could pull away if they beat Guus Hiddink's Anzhi Makhachkala on Monday.
Kuban, who missed a penalty through Lacina Traore, remain in eighth, five points off fifth-placed Rubin Kazan in the final Europa League spot.
Roman Pavlyuchenko started brightly for Lokomotiv in his debut after joining from Tottenham Hotspur last month, but faded and was substituted on 65 minutes.
Lokomotiv, who dominated possession throughout, took the lead five minutes in.
Pavlyuchenko started a move that ended with winger Maicon Marques slotting home for a 1-0 lead after Kuban goalkeeper Alexander Belenov parried Caicedo’s shot.
Pavlyuchenko then found space in the box with an elegant turn but his weak shot was easily saved by Belenov.
Lokomotiv captain Dmitry Torbinsky endangered his side’s lead when he tripped Kuban striker Marcos Urena in the box, but goalkeeper Guilherme saved Traore’s penalty.
The visitors were made to pay three minutes later when Caicedo dribbled past defender Igor Armas to double Lokomotiv’s lead with a cool finish.
On the hour mark, Kuban midfielder Alexei Kozlov sent a long shot fizzing past Guilherme’s post.
Lokomotiv coach Jose Couceiro then shifted the focus to defense, replacing winger Torbinsky with Alberto Zapater, a holding midfielder, and taking off Pavlyuchenko for fellow striker Dmitry Sychev, who has struggled in recent months.
Kuban piled on the pressure, with David Tsoraev blasting a half-volley over the bar on 81 minutes, and four minutes later Alexei Ionov sent a curling free-kick just wide.
Deep into stoppage time, only an acrobatic save from Belenov stopped Caicedo from making it a rout.
In the day’s top game, CSKA Moscow winger Ahmed Musa scored on his debut to rescue a 2-2 draw with Zenit St. Petersburg that prevented Zenit from extending their six-point lead at the top of the table.
Alexander Kerzhakov scored twice for Zenit, including the season’s second-fastest goal after just 18 seconds, while Alan Dzagoev scored CSKA's first.
Zenit’s Andrei Arshavin was anonymous in his first appearance on loan from English side Arsenal, and was substituted on 55 minutes.
Earlier Saturday, bottom club FC Tom Tomsk, who were rescued from the brink of bankruptcy during the winter break, continued to struggle in a 1-0 defeat away to Terek Grozny, who are now eight points clear of the relegation places.
Shamil Asildarov lashed the ball in from a tight angle for the only goal of the game on 61 minutes after picking up long pass from Igor Lebedenko.
In Nizhny Nogorod, FC Volga climbed to 13th with a 1-0 home win against 15th-placed Spartak Nalchik.
Volga defender Sergey Bendz headed in on 58 minutes from Alexander Kharitonov’s corner to give the hosts the points.
Monday’s four fixtures include Dynamo’s clash with Anzhi, and Rubin’s game against Spartak Moscow.
