Spartak stumble in Krasnodar as Lokomotiv win

Moscow: Spartak Moscow`s perfect start to the new Russian Premier League season was brought to an end on Thursday in comprehensive fashion in a 4-0 defeat to Krasnodar.

Former Sporting Lisbon and Porto midfielder Marat Izmailov set Krasnodar on their way to a first win of the new campaign before Brazilian Ari doubled their lead just before the hour mark. Vladimir Bystrov put Krasnodar out of sight against his old club and a Joaozinho penalty secured a handsome victory for the hosts as Spartak suffered their first defeat under new coach Murat Yakin. "We looked the better side and deservedly won today," said the Krasnodar coach Oleg Kononov. Meanwhile, Lokomotiv Moscow continued their good early-season form by beating Rostov 2-1 in the capital thanks to first-half goals by Russian international duo Alan Kasaev and Alexander Samedov. Dmitry Poloz pulled a goal back for Rostov in the second half of a game which both sides ended with 10 men, with former Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City defender Vedran Corluka taking an early bath for Lokomotiv. And, despite the outcome, Lokomotiv coach Leonid Kuchuk was far from pleased with his team`s performance. "We can only blame ourselves for all the difficulties we experienced in the second half after we lost control of the game," said Kuchuk, whose men face Apollon Limassol in the Europa League play-offs next week. "Both teams had clear scoring chances late on but we were just a little bit more lucky and managed to hold on." Lokomotiv have seven points and sit third in the table, two points adrift of champions CSKA Moscow and Zenit St Petersburg, who earlier in the day signed Spanish midfielder Javi Garcia from Manchester City. Zenit won 2-1 at Ural Yekaterinburg on Wednesday thanks to Jose Salomon Rondon`s second-half strike while CSKA saw off Terek Grozny 1-0 thanks to Zoran Tosic`s early effort. Also on Wednesday, France playmaker Mathieu Valbuena made his first start for Dynamo Moscow since his move from Marseille and marked it with two assists in a 2-0 victory at Ufa.