Moscow Region side Saturn won 1-0 and surprise successes Spartak Nalchik kept up their challenge for a European place with a 2-1 win on a low-scoring Saturday in Russian Premier League.
The other two games, which saw Spartak Moscow travel to Novosibirsk to play Sibir and Dynamo Moscow visit Alania Vladikavkaz in North Ossetia, both finished scoreless.
Saturn's home win over Terek Grozny was settled in the 78th minute when young Russian midfielder Alexander Sapeta grabbed his third goal of the season.
The win moved the Ramenskoye club up to 10th place, three points behind Terek in ninth.
Earlier in the day, Spartak Nalchik went three points clear in of Lokomtiv Moscow in fifth place, which would bring Europa League football to the North Caucasus next year if they cling on until the end of the season.
As with Saturn, the fans in Nalchik had to wait for the goals, with the home side only sparking into life after Tom Tomsk forward Yevgeny Starikov put the visitors ahead in the 55th minute.
Vladimir Dyadyun equalized five minutes later but the match appeared to be drifting to a draw until substitute David Siradze popped up to score the winner in the second minute of injury time.
Spartak Moscow's draw, following their Champions League defeat to Chelsea in midweek, leaves them just a point ahead of their North Caucasian namesakes, although the Muscovites have a game in hand. Despite the hard-earned point, Sibir remain rock-bottom, five points from safety and with just five games to avoid relegation after just one season in the top flight.
Saturday's results
Sibir 0-0 Spartak Moscow
Alania Vladikavkaz 0-0 Dynamo Moscow
Spartak Nalchik 2-1 Tom Tomsk
Saturn 1-0 Terek Grozny
Sunday's fixtures
Amkar Perm v Lokomotiv Moscow
CSKA Moscow v Rubin Kazan
Anzhi Makhachkala v Zenit St. Petersburg
Rostov v Krylya Sovetov
Russian Premier League table (25 games unless stated)
Zenit St. Petersburg 56 (22 games)
Rubin Kazan 50 (24)
CSKA Moscow 48 (22)
Spartak Moscow 40 (24)
Spartak Nalchik 39
Lokomotiv Moscow 36 (24)
Rostov 33 (24)
Dynamo Moscow 33 (24)
Terek Grozny 31
Saturn 28
Tom Tomsk 27
Alania Vladikavkaz 24
Anzhi Makhachkala 23 (24)
Krylya Sovetov 23 (24)
Amkar Perm 22 (24)
Sibir 18
MOSCOW, October 23 (RIA Novosti)
