Two goals from Sergei Kornilenko including a last-minute penalty took Krylya Sovetov past FC Rostov 2-1 in the Russian Premier League on Sunday.
The result brings Krylya up to 43 points, joint 12th with Rostov but behind on games won. Whichever team finishes 13th enters a relelation playoff. Four games remain.
Former Blackpool striker Kornilenko opened the scoring after just three minutes, tucking the ball away unmarked in the penalty area.
Krylya former Roman Adamov pounced on a rebound to head an equalizer on 20 minutes.
Kornilenko scored the winner from the spot after Kornel Salata was adjudged to have upended him.
Earlier on Sunday, Spartak Moscow were beaten 3-0 at home thanks in part to Samuel Eto'o's first goal since November.
In other results this weekend, Zenit salvaged a 2-2 draw against FC Kuban; Dynamo Moscow edged CSKA Moscow 1-0; Amkar Perm beat bottom side Spartak Nalchik 1-0; FC Volga scored a 2-0 win over FC Tom Tomsk; and FC Krasnodar got a 1-0 away win at Terek Grozny.
Rubin travel to Lokomotiv later Sunday.
