Ural end Zenit’s winning run

AFP, MOSCOW: Zenit St Petersburg's perfect start to the fledgling season ended Wednesday as the Russian league leaders were held 1-1 at Ural Yekaterinburg.

Roberto Mancini's side however remain top of the table equal on 13 points with Lokomotiv Moscow, who were also held 1-1 by 10-man Rubin Kazan. Rostov beat Dynamo Moscow 1-0 to sit third three points behind the leading duo.

Romanian striker Eric Bicfalvi put Ural ahead after 35 minutes with a header off Nikolay Dimitrov's right-wing cross.

But Zenit upped the tempo after the break and Alexander Kokorin equalised just before the hour mark when he redirected a Sebastian Driussi cross into the net.

“I'm really disappointed with the result,” said Mancini. “We had plenty of chances after the break but managed to convert only one of them.”

Champions Spartak Moscow bounced back from last week's 5-1 thrashing at Zenit with a 2-0 win at home to Arsenal Tula

Ural end Zenits winning run

AFP, MOSCOW: Zenit St Petersburgs perfect start to the fledgling season ended Wednesday as the Russian league leaders were held 1-1 at Ural Yekaterinburg. Roberto Mancinis side however remain top of the table equal on 13 points with Lokomotiv Moscow, who were also held 1-1 by 10-man Rubin Kazan. Rostov beat Dynamo Moscow 1-0 to sit third three points behind the leading duo. Romanian striker Eric Bicfalvi put Ural ahead after 35 minutes with a header off Nikolay Dimitrovs right-wing cross. But Zenit upped the tempo after the break and Alexander Kokorin equalised just before the hour mark when he redirected a Sebastian Driussi cross into the net. Im really disappointed with the result, said Mancini. We had plenty of chances after the break but managed to convert only one of them. Champions Spartak Moscow bounced back from last weeks 5-1 thrashing at Zenit with a 2-0 win at home to Arsenal Tula