At the start of the evening a single point separated the top
four teams and with Lokomotiv having the night off from the action it was a
chance for the other three clubs to try and open up a gap at the top of the
table.
Spartak Moscow
1 v 0 CSKA
Moscow
This Moscow derby between the tables top two teams promised
fireworks and is was aptly enough Spartak who showed most spark.
They took the lead on 10 minutes when Popov converted a
penalty after a clumsy challenge by Lovren on Shirokov.
This looked by being the first of many as the CSKA defence
was tested time and again by the hosts as they pushed forward. The visitors
were content to counter attack whilst their back line held firm under the
pressure but there chances of sneaking an equaliser evaporated in the 81st
minute when Carrillo was rightly shown a straight red after a disgraceful
challenge on Shirikov.
Houston will be ecstatic as his Spartak side returned to the
top of the table whilst CSKA supremo Smith will be desperately disappointed
with his teams performance and the result which sees them drop out of the
qualification places.
Dynamo Moscow
3 v 2
Zenit
Dynamo went into the game knowing a win would take them into
the top two whilst Zenit were still looking for their first point of the
tournament but buoyed by their previous performance against Spartak.
Zenit fans must have feared a landslide after Dynamo took
the lead on 12 minutes through Valbuena and then an own goal by Neto on 23
minutes, but Zenit are made of sterner stuff these days and pulled a goal back
2 minutes later with a Villa strike.
Davis restored the two goal lead Dynamo for the hosts a
minute after the interval but Dzyuba hauled Zenit back into the game within 2
minutes.
Despite their efforts Zenit couldn’t find the equaliser
which on the balance of play they will feel they deserved.
Razzaque will take his side to CSKA next week needing a win
to keep up the pressure at the top, Hassan on the other hand will be looking
for his sides improved performances to translate into points in the remaining
two fixtures.
| Match Day 7 Table | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts |
| Spartak Moscow | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 12 |
| Dynamo Moscow | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 11 |
| CSKA Moscow | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 9 |
| Lokomotiv Moscow | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 8 |
| Zenit St Petersburg | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 12 | -7 | 0 |
Match Day 8 Fixtures – Weds 13th April
Zenit St Petersburg
v Lokomotiv Moscow
CSKA Moscow v Dynamo Moscow
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