22.09.2014 20:19 h

Ionov brace fires Dynamo past Torpedo, into second

A brace by midfielder Alexei Ionov set Dynamo Moscow on their way to a hard-fought 3-1 win over city rivals Torpedo at their home ground, Ramenskoye arena, on Monday.

Hungarian winger Balazs Dzsudzsak also scored for Dynamo, who moved into second on goal difference from Russian Premier League champions CSKA, while defender Alexander Katsalapov was on target for Torpedo.

"We have left too many emotions in Greece and looked unimpressive in the first half," Dynamo manager Stanislav Cherchesov said in reference to their 2-1 midweek Europa League win at Panathinaikos.

"Luckily, we managed to move up a gear after the break to earn a deserved win," he added.

Dynamo, without French playmaker Mathieu Valbuena, who underwent appendectomy last week, opened the scoring in the 10th minute, when Kevin Kuranyi redirected Dzsudzsak's cross into the box to the unmarked Ionov who kept his cool to fire into the corner.

But Torpedo levelled just a minute later through Katsalapov, who headed the ball into the net from the edge of the six-yard box off Diniyar Bilyaletdinov's pinpoint cross.

After the break Dynamo missed a set of chances before Ionov scored in the 82nd minute, lobbing the ball into the net over helpless Torpedo 'keeper Yury Zhevnov from 14 metres out.

Dzsudzsak added his goal with a minute to go to secure Dynamo's win.

In Monday's other match, FC Krasnodar recorded a 2-1 win at Amkar Perm to leave them in seventh.

Brazilian striker Francisco Wanderson put Krasnodar into a 26th minute lead, sending the ball into the net from just inside the area but Amkar midfielder Igor Kireyev levelled a minute from the break.

But another Brazilian Joaozinho scored Krasnodar's winner with 16 minutes to go from the spot after Amkar defenders fouled Ari in the box.