Russian Premier League leaders Zenit St Petersburg increased their lead to nine points this afternoon with a 2-1 win at Spartak Moscow, while second-placed CSKA Moscow were held to a 1-1 draw at Kuban Krasnodar.

Champions Zenit took control early on at Spartak with a tenth-minute goal from Sergei Semak putting them ahead, and Alexander Kerzhakov's 63rd-minute penalty doubling their advantage. Artem Dzjuba reduced the deficit five minutes from time, but the hosts could not force an equaliser.

CSKA lost ground as substitute Anton Sekret earned Kuban Krasnodar a point with an 88th-minute equaliser after Seydou Doumbia had put the capital club ahead in the 71st minute. Krasnodar remained well clear at the top of the relegation group despite managing only a 1-1 draw at Krylya Sovetov. 

Oleg Samsonov's opener eight minutes before half-time looked to have set the visitors on course for victory, but the second half did not go to plan. Sergey Kornilenko levelled for the hosts in the 69th minute before Dusan Andjelkovic earned a late red card.

The result saw Krasnodar move seven points clear of tenth-placed Rostov, who went down 2-0 at Volga Nizhny Novgorod thanks to first-half goals from Shota Bibilov and Andrei Karyaka from the penalty spot.