Fernando fires Spartak ten points clear

AFP, MOSCOW: A goal by Brazilian midfielder Lucas Fernando sent Spartak Moscow 10 points clear at the top of the Russian Premier League with a 1-0 win over Ural Yekaterinburg on Tuesday.
Spartak, in the hunt for a first title since 2001, bounced back from last weekend's 3-0 defeat at Rostov.
Second-placed CSKA Moscow, who play city rivals Lokomotiv, and third-placed Zenit St Petersburg, who visit Orenburg, can reduce the arrears on Wednesday.
“It wasn't easy to play just two days after our previous match,” Spartak manager Massimo Carrera said. “We obviously lacked freshness.
“We can play better. But we managed to gain all three points today and that's the most important thing about this match.”
Spartak started in a lively fashion but Bulgarian midfielder Ivelin Popov squandered a clear chance on five minutes, firing inches wide from the edge of the six-yard box.
Fernando put the Muscovites into the lead in the 23rd minute when he hammered the ball into the net from 24 yards out with the help of a ricochet off Ural's Slovenian back Gregor Balazic.

 

Fernando fires Spartak ten points clear

AFP, MOSCOW: A goal by Brazilian midfielder Lucas Fernando sent Spartak Moscow 10 points clear at the top of the Russian Premier League with a 1-0 win over Ural Yekaterinburg on Tuesday. Spartak, in the hunt for a first title since 2001, bounced back from last weekends 3-0 defeat at Rostov. Second-placed CSKA Moscow, who play city rivals Lokomotiv, and third-placed Zenit St Petersburg, who visit Orenburg, can reduce the arrears on Wednesday. It wasnt easy to play just two days after our previous match, Spartak manager Massimo Carrera said. We obviously lacked freshness. We can play better. But we managed to gain all three points today and thats the most important thing about this match. Spartak started in a lively fashion but Bulgarian midfielder Ivelin Popov squandered a clear chance on five minutes, firing inches wide from the edge of the six-yard box. Fernando put the Muscovites into the lead in the 23rd minute when he hammered the ball into the net from 24 yards out with the help of a ricochet off Urals Slovenian back Gregor Balazic.