Emenike’s Goal Lifts Spartak To Second Place

Nine-time champions Spartak Moscow moved into second place in the Russian Premier League with a well-deserved 2-0 home win over Obafemi Martins’ Rubin Kazan on Sunday.

Spartak have 68 points from 39 matches, 12 points behind leaders Zenit St Petersburg.

Dynamo Moscow, who beat big-spending Anzhi at Makhachkala 1-0, have 66 points to go third, above their city rivals CSKA due to a better winning record.

Spartak’s Czech defender Marek Suchy opened the scoring from substitute midfielder Zhano Ananidze’s corner in the 75th minute.

Seven minutes later Nigerian striker Emmanuel Emenike also hit target with a close-range header from Brazilian teammate Ari’s cross.

“We looked the dominant side throughout the match and won deservedly,” said Spartak manager Valery Karpin.

“We had chances before the break but the appearance of Ananidze became the deciding factor as he added precision to our attack.”

Meanwhile, at Makhachkala, Anzhi dominated early play and in the 31st minute defender Arseny Logashov’s header from a corner forced Dynamo ‘keeper Anton Shunin into a diving save.

But it was Dynamo’s full back Vladimir Rykov who netted the only goal in the 37th minute beating Anzhi goalie Vladimir Gabulov with a 35-metre shot with a help of a slight ricochet.

Anzhi sought the equaliser and in the 48th minute skipper Samuel Eto’o missed a chance when his 12-metre attempt was stopped by Shunin.

Dynamo winger Alexander Samedov missed an opportunity to increase his side’s advantage in the 88th minute when his shot from the edge of the area went over the bar.

“I’d like to praise my players as the win at Makhachkala is a rare and valuable event,” Dynamo coach Sergei Silkin said.

“We played with discipline and it was the key to success tonight.”