Samara sink Zenit, Anzhi take down Spartak
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Reigning champions Zenit St. Petersburg hopes of retaining their title suffered another setback following a 3-1 defeat at the hands of promoted Samara on Saturday. A brace by Belarus forward Sergei Kornilenko and a goal by midfielder Georgy Gabulov sealed the win at Zenit's Petrovsky stadium to lift Samara into seventh.
Zenit remain in second three points behind the leaders CSKA Moscow, who face Kuban Krasnodar on Sunday. Elsewhere, Russia's most successful club Spartak Moscow failed to capitalize on Zenit's flop as they suffered a 2-1 defeat at the hands of another promoted side Anzhi Makhachkala.
Dutch midfielder Lorenzo Ebecilio put Anzhi 1-0 up in the 27th minute sending the ball into unguarded net after Spartak goalie Artem Rebrov's error. Dmitry Kombarov pulled the scores level in the 53rd minute with a precise spot-kick after Anzhi fouled his twin brother Kirill in the area. But Anzhi full back Alexander Zhirov netted his team's winner with a close-range header off a well-served corner with four minutes to go.
Dinamo Moscow beat Ufa 2-0 in the first match of the day in Russia.