Moscow: Sardar Azmoun’s Zenit St Petersburg claimed their fifth Russian title on Saturday with a 1-1 draw at Akhmat Grozny after closest challengers Lokomotiv Moscow lost 2-0 at Arsenal Tula.

In this decider match Sardar Azmoun had to face his compatriot and Team Melli colleague Milad Mohammadi.

With three games to go Zenit are assured of the title with a nine-point lead and a better head-to-head record against second-placed Lokomotiv.

This was Zenit’s first title in four years and a great debut season for Team Melli international Azmoun, who has scored 12 goals in the campaign.

Akhmat dominated Zenit but a combination of poor finishing and good goalkeeping by Andrei Lunev left the 13,000 home crowd frustrated. In the 33rd minute Argentinian forward Sebastian Driussi scored for Zenit but his goal was disallowed for offside.

Brazilian midfielder Ismael put Akhmat into the lead 10 minutes after the break with an unopposed shot from 22 yards out. Zenit’s Driussi levelled the score with a 10-yard effort through traffic with three minutes remaining.

Source: AFP