MOSCOW: Russia's reigning champions Zenit St Petersburg extended their winning streak in thrashing 10-man visitors Spartak Moscow 5-0 on Saturday.
Roman Shirokov netted a double, while Maxim Kanunnikov, Vladimir Bystrov and Viktor Faizulin added one apiece to maintain Zenit's perfect record of four wins in as many matches.
Zenit started in lively fashion under the watchful gaze of Russia's new national coach Fabio Capello and Kanunnikov lifted the hosts 1-0 up in the 16th minute, beating Spartak 'keeper Andrei Dykan with a precise shot from the edge of the area.
Bystrov made it 2-0 for Zenit six minutes after the interval, firing home after Domenico Criscito's pass into Spartak's box.
Nine-time champions Spartak had a chance to reduce the arrears just after the hour mark when Zenit defender Tomas Hubocan fouled Spartak forward Emmanuel Emenike in the box but Vyacheslav Malafeyev parried Diniyar Bilyaletdinov's spotkick.
Shirokov scored Zenit's third on the counter-attack in the 61st minute, while Spartak Irish midfielder Aiden McGeady reduced his side's chances to save the day as he was sent off for a foul minutes later.
Zenit fourth goal came from Faizulin in the 67th minute, while Shirokov rounded off the scoring with his second goal of the match with two minutes remaining.
Meanwhile, two-time champions Lokomotiv Moscow were held to a 2-2 draw by 1995 Russian champions Alanaia Vladikavkaz. AFP
- Harian Metro
- Berita Harian
- Business Times
- My Gadget Planet
- Travelific
- Harum
- Eats
- Properties
- News Image Bank (NIB)
- New Economic Model
- NST Reviews
- NiEXUS
- Friends of Travel Times
- Property News
- NSTLIVE Archive
- Spell-It-Right
