Zenit St. Petersburg clinched a Russian Premier League title with two games to spare by thrashing Rostov 5-0 in front of their jubilant fans in St. Petersburg on Sunday.
Serbian striker Danko Lazovic opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 40th minute, but it took Zenit another half hour to find Rostov's net again. Sergei Semak, Alexander Kerzhakov and Alexander Bukharov got their names on the score sheet late in the second half.
Zenit's arch rivals CSKA Moscow drew against Spartak Nalchik away earlier on Sunday, which left them eight points behind with no hope of catching up.
Two-time defending champions Rubin Kazan are ten points behind the St. Petersburg club, who first won the title in 2007 and went on to lift the UEFA cup with an away victory over Rangers months later.
"It was going to be a day for champions. I have felt it since the morning," exultant Kerhazkov said after the match.
MOSCOW, November 14 (RIA Novosti)
