Lokomotiv steam ahead in Russia

MOSCOW: Lokomotiv Moscow climbed level with Russian Premier League leaders Zenit St Petersburg following a 2-1 home win over Ural Yekaterinburg on Saturday.

Jefferson Farfan and Alexei Miranchuk both scored as Lokomotiv overcame an own goal from goalkeeper Marinato Guilherme to hand Ural a first defeat of the season.

Peru international Farfan struck a 21st-minute opener when he tapped in a rebound after a corner, but Ural drew level as Guilherme diverted in an angled shot by Georgy Dimitrov.

Alexei Miranchuk scored Lokomotiv’s winner on 56 minutes following a clever back-heel pass by his twin brother Anton.

“It was a difficult win,” Lokomotiv manager Yury Semin said. “But we’ve created more chances, we looked the better side and won deservedly.”

Elsewhere, Rubin Kazan beat promoted Tosno 1-0 to go third.

Russian international midfielder Maxim Kanunnikov was the match-winner for Rubin as he grabbed the only goal on 19 minutes.

“We’ve had satisfactory results in the first part of the season given the fact we lost a handful of skilled players,” Rubin head coach Kurban Berdyev said.

“We’re creating a new team and in general our performance has been acceptable so far.”

Leaders Zenit can re-establish their three-point lead on Sunday when they host fourth-placed Rostov.