Spartak narrow gap in Russia

Nine-time Russian champions Spartak Moscow moved into second place in the table ahead of the Euro 2008 break with a hard-fought 1-0 home win over Ramenskoye on Thursday.

The win cut Premier League leaders Kazan's lead, who were held to a 1-1 home draw by minnows Yaroslavl, to five points.

But Kazan will top the table until the end of the break for June's European championship finals with 25 points from 11 matches.

Perm, who were resting ahead of the national cup final clash with CSKA Moscow on Sunday, sit third on 19 points.

Kazan took the lead in the 57th minute when their Turkish forward Karadeniz Gokdeniz scored the opening goal with a header from Lasha Salukvadze's precise cross.

But Yaroslavl midfielder Denis Boyarintsev levelled with less than a minute remaining, also with a header.

Spartak had to wait until the 89th minute to secure their win when Roman Pavlyuchenko netted from the spot after Ramenskoye's Ruslan Nakhushev was penalised for handball.