Zenit won 2-1 away at FC Moscow, with Andrei Arshavin giving Dick Advocaat's men the lead in the ninth minute after picking up a backheel from Fatih Tekke and finishing sharply from close range.

The lead was doubled in the dying seconds of the first half when woeful FC Moscow defending allowed Ukrainian Anatoly Tymoschuk to head home unchallenged following a corner from Alejandro Dominguez.

The hosts pulled a goal back in the 50th minute thanks to a powerful header by Roman Adamov, and gained a numerical advantage when Zenit defender Ivica Krizanac was sent off for a second bookable offence six minutes later.

But despite creating many dangerous openings in the second half, including two chances for the lively Adamov, Zenit held on for three points, with Advocaat admitting his side were lucky to prevail.

The Dutchman said: "We had a good first half, scoring twice, and usually with such a lead you try to control the game.

"But FC Moscow scored early enough in the second half, and it was especially difficult for us in the final 30 minutes.

"Speaking truthfully, luck was on our side today."

Zenit remain a point clear of Spartak, who won 3-1 away to bottom-of-the-table Rostov.

Czech midfielder Radoslav Kovac put Spartak ahead on the half-hour with a smart header from Roman Shishkin's free-kick.

Rostov equalised six minutes later thanks to an equally excellent header from Malawian Iso Kanienda, but Spartak were soon back in front thanks to Dmitri Torbinsky's long-range effort.

Maksim Burchenko was sent off for Rostov with 20 minutes remaining for a second bookable offence, before Nikita Bazhenov rounded things off for Spartak with a neat finish two minutes into stoppage time.

Spartak now have a four point cushion from third-placed Dinamo Moscow after Andrei Kobelev's men went down 2-1 away to Rubin Kazan.

Defender Denis Kolodin netted his sixth penalty kick of the season to put Dinamo ahead ten minutes before half-time.

But it took Rubin only three minutes to reply thanks to midfielder Aleksandr Ryazantsev, before Vladimir Bairamov headed the winner in the 64th minute.

Back in the capital, CSKA Moscow's problems intensified after they were held to a goalless draw by Kuban Krasnodar at the Dinamo Stadium.

Despite moving up a place to fifth, the defending champions have now won just once in their last seven games, and are without a goal in their last four league outings.

In the day's other game, Khimki and Tom Tomsk drew 1-1 at the Rodina Stadium.

Slovenian international Nastja Ceh put the home side ahead in the 23rd minute, but Dmitri Michkov equalised from the penalty spot for Tomsk 18 minutes into the second half.

The Russian season now takes a two week break, with play resuming on July 14.