Zenit St. Petersburg took a big stride toward the Russian Premier League title on Saturday with a 2-1 win at Spartak Moscow, going nine points clear at the top with seven games remaining.
Sergei Semak opened the scoring on just ten minutes, hitting a thunderous first-time shot past Andriy Dikan and in off the underside of the crossbar.
The second came from the penalty spot after Alexander Kerzhakov was upended by Nicolas Pareja on 63 minutes. The Russia striker thumped past Spartak goalkeeper Andriy Dikan, who was still slightly dazed after a collision with Kerzhakov's knee a few minutes earlier.
Artem Dzyuba gave Spartak hope in the dying minutes with a smart turn and shot in the box, but the hosts couldn't make their late pressure count.
Zenit's win came on the same day their nearest title rivals, CSKA, could only draw 1-1 at FC Kuban.
Spartak remain fifth on 62 points, now realistically in the hunt for CSKA's second place at best. CSKA are on 65 points.
Vladimir Bystrov burst through early but could only hit straight at Andriy Dikan in the Spartak goal. At the other end Emanuel Emenike tested Vyacheslav Malafeev with a low stinging drive.
Zenit went in front and Alexander Kerzhakov tried to double it immedtialy but fired a free kick into the Spartak wall.
Dikan rushed out to save from Bystrov on the half hour.
Dmitry Kombarov rattled the Zenit crossbar with a free kick in first-half injury time.
Demy De Zeeuw played in Emanuel Emenike at the start of the second half but the Nigerian blasted over.
Second-half substitute Aiden McGeady headed over as the game entered a scrappy phase.
On the hour mark Kerzhakov meandered down the left, cut inside and was felled by the Argentinian Pareja.
After the second goal, Spartak piled on the pressure, with Tomas Hubocan clearing an Emenike shot off the goalline.
At the other end, Spartak's Marek Suchy got his head in the way of Kerzhakov's shot into an otherwise empty net eight minutes from time, and Semak slammed wide from the follow-up.
Dzyuba's 85th-minute strike pulled Spartak back into it, and Aiden McGeady headed wide from a good position in the 88th minute.
Earlier Saturday, Volga climbed to 12th with a 2-0 win over Rostov. On Friday, FC Tom Tomsk ended months at the foot of the table as their 2-0 win at Spartak Nalchik lifted the Siberians to 15th.
On Sunday, Amkar Perm face Terek Grozny, Rubin Kazan play Anzhi and Lokomotiv Moscow host city rivals Dynamo.
