* Arshavin scores first goal for Zenit
* Akinfeyev returns after knee injury
(Adds Spalletti quotes)
MOSCOW, April 14 (Reuters) – Zenit St Petersburg beat CSKA
Moscow 2-0 in the top-of-the-table clash on Saturday to all but
secure their second consecutive Russian Premier League title
with five games to spare.
Luciano Spalletti’s team, backed by Russian energy giant
Gazprom, need to win at Kuban Krasnodar next Saturday to clinch
their third domestic title since 2007 after stretching their
lead over second-placed CSKA to 14 points.
Zenit winger Vladimir Bystrov put the home team ahead with
his first goal of the season midway through the second half with
a diving header.
Russia captain Andrei Arshavin sealed the win a minute from
time with his first for Zenit since rejoining his former club on
a three-month loan from Arsenal in February.
“We beat CSKA — our most serious rival and thus fully
deserved to win the championship,” Spalletti told reporters.
“We still need to mathematically secure the title but I
think this is almost academic now,” said the Italian. “I would
like to congratulate all our fans, but most of all (Zenit
president Alexander) Dyukov and (Gazprom chief Alexei) Miller.”
CSKA are now in danger of losing the second Champions League
spot to arch-rivals Spartak Moscow, who are third, a point
behind but have a game in hand and host Rubin Kazan on Sunday.
Zenit’s victory also spoiled the return of CSKA and Russia
goalkeeper Igor Akinfeyev, who played his first competitive game
in more than seven months following a serious knee injury.
Akinfeyev, who turned 26 last Sunday, hopes to regain his
place as Russia’s first-choice keeper after overcoming damaged
meniscus and torn cruciate ligaments in his left knee.
(Reporting By Gennady Fyodorov; Editing by Alison Wildey)
