Russian title race wide open as Rubin lose again

The Russian Premier League is set for its tightest ever finish after leaders and reigning champions Rubin Kazan lost their second match in succession at the weekend, while the chasing group all won.

Rubin`s 2-1 loss to Lokomotiv Moscow in the Russian capital, plus wins for contenders Spartak Moscow, CSKA Moscow, and Zenit St. Petersburg means that with just six games to play, five points separate the top four. To make things even more intriguing, Rubin still have to play CSKA and Zenit, and Spartak travel to St. Petersburg in the last weekend of the season.

Rubin suffered the worst possible start against Lokomotiv, Nigerian-Russian striker Peter Odemwingie firing home in the 1st minute of the game. Odemwingie then doubled the score in bizarre fashion half an hour later, getting his head on the end of what seemed like a routine clearance by Rubin keeper Sergei Ryzhikov.

Georgian defender Lasha Salukvadze headed in for Rubin in the 75th minute, but there was no denying Lokomotiv the three points.

Lokomotiv, revitalized since the return of trainer of Yury Syomin, who led the side to the title in 2002 and 2004, are six now points behind Rubin in fifth place and have every chance of grabbing one of Russia`s three Champions League spots.

Second place Spartak Moscow`s 2-1 win over Amkar in the Urals means that the perennial 1990s champions are now just a point behind Rubin, who have taken just one point from a possible nine in their last three games.

CSKA Moscow bounced back from last weekend`s 2-0 defeat to Zenit St. Petersburg with a 4-0 destruction of struggling Kuban, all the goals coming in the second half.

Andrei Arshavin`s old club beat Dynamo Moscow 2-1 in St. Petersburg, with former Chelsea forward Mateja Kezman scoring his second in as many games.

RESULTS (October 3-4)

CSKA Moscow 4-0 Kuban

Amkar 1-2 Spartak Moscow

Lokomotiv Moscow 2-1 Rubin

Zenit St. Petersburg 2-1 Dynamo Moscow

Tom Tomsk 3-1 Saturn

Krilya Sovetov 0-0 Spartak Nalchik

Khimki 1-2 Terek Grozny

Rostov 2-2 FC Moskva

Table (24 games)

Rubin - 47

Spartak Moscow - 46

Zenit - 43

CSKA Moscow - 42

Lokomotiv Moscow - 41

FC Moskva - 38

Dynamo Moscow - 34

Terek Grozny - 33

Saturn - 32

Krilya Sovetov - 30

Tom Tomsk - 28

Rostov - 28

Amkar - 27

Spartak Nalchik -24

Kuban - 23

Khimki -10

sections: Sport