CSKA beat Ufa, Mordovia hold Zenit
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CSKA Moscow saw off strugglers Ufa 2-0 at Khimki Arena to remain unbeaten in the Russian Premier League.
Goals by full back Sergei Ignashevich and Serbian playmaker Zoran Tosic set the league leaders on their way to a morale-boosting win ahead of their trip to Manchester United next week. CSKA, the league's only undefeated side, are nine points clear of city rivals Lokomotiv, who face Kuban Krasnodar on Sunday. Reigning champions Zenit St. Petersburg, held to a 0-0 draw by visitors Mordovia Saransk, are one point further back in third.
"Our players aren't in their best conditions because of cumulative fatigue and their main task is to force themselves to play at their best," CSKA manager Leonid Slutsky said. "But despite all these problems I think today we've performed classy football and gained a convincing victory."
CSKA dominated with Ignashevich lifting the Muscovites in front in the 21st minute from the penalty spot after Ufa skipper Pavel Alikin played handball in his area. In the 62nd minute Tosic doubled CSKA's lead when he received a short cross by Georgi Milanov and scored by the far left post from just inside the area.
Elsewhere, defending champions Zenit failed to overcome the visitors Mardovia Saransk ahead of next week's UEFA Champions League match with Lyon. Zenit, who were without Brazilian star Hulk, who has suffered a minor muscle injury in Wednesday's Russian Cup match with Tosno, experienced serious problems in front of Mordovia's net squandering all of their chances in the first half.
After the interval Zenit continued to test the visiting side's defence but to no avail as Mordovia sat back replying on rare but dangerous counter-attacks. In the 70th minute Zenit midfielder Oleg Shatov had the best chance for an opener as he lobbed the ball over goalkeeper Nukri Revishvili from the edge of the six-yard box but Mordovia's full back Maxim Tishkin cleared his attempt.
"We've created a lot of chances but failed to convert them," Zenit manager Andre Villas-Boas said. "It's the problem that we experience in our last two league matches, against Kuban and today as well. It's all because of our lack of efficiency."