Rubin Kazan claim Russian football crown
Published 02 November, 2008, 13:52
Rubin Kazan have become Russian champions for the first time in history. The side from Tatarstan, led by coach Kurban Berdyev, secured the title with three games to go in the Russian Premier League.
Rubin clinched the title by beating Saturn of Moscow Region 2-1 away.
After second-placed CSKA were beaten by Spartak 1-0 on Saturday, Kazan team needed to take three points in Ramenskoe to become uncatchachable at the top of the table.
It was a tight game with the visitors managing to take the lead with just 15 minutes to play. Rubin’s fast attack finished with Roman Adamov’s shot from outside the box. The ball ricocheted off the far post and went into the net.
But it took Saturn only five minutes to equalize, when Petr Nemov took advantage of Marko Topich’s cross and made it 1-1.
Last year Zenit secured the crown in a game against Saturn and Rubin did everything to follow the path of theSt. Petersburg team.
Hasan Kabze came off the bench to deliver a pass to Euro 2000 top scorer Savo Milosevic. The Serbian striker scored the crucial goal on 89 minutes to start Kazan’s celebrations.
In another important game of the day Amkar Perm beat Luch Energia of Vladivostok 1-0 and are now level on points with Dinamo Moscow in fourth place, while Luch are still deep in relegation trouble.
Two of the other matches ended with the same score, 1-1. Terek entertained FC Moscow in Grozny and Tom visited Spartak Nalchik.
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