Krasnodar Stumble In Russian Champions League Race

Moscow, May 5 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 6th May, 2019 ) :Krasnodar were held 1-1 by Rostov in Russia's southern derby on Sunday to dent their hopes of claiming automatic qualification to the Champions League next season.

The stalemate left Krasnodar two points adrift of Lokomotiv Moscow with three games to go.

Only freshly minted champions Zenit Saint Petersburg and the team that finishes second are assured of a place in Europe's top club competition.

Zenit, who claimed their fifth Russian title on Saturday with a 1-1 draw at Akhmat Grozny, are nine points clear of Lokomotiv who were beaten 2-0 by Arsenal Tula also on Saturday.

Swedish midfielder Viktor Claesson put Krasnodar into a 25th minute lead with a precise spot-kick awarded after a foul on Serbian defender Uros Spajic.

Despite the visitors creating more chances after the restart substitute Eldor Shomurodov had the 34,000 home crowd on their feet in the 85th minute when he levelled with a header off a cross by Roman Eremenko.

"After the break we should have scored the second goal and won the match," Krasnodar manager Murad Musaev said.

"But instead we've lost concentration and it was a costly mistake." Fourth-placed CSKA Moscow's prospects of Champions League football also suffered a setback after a 2-2 draw with city rivals Dynamo.

Slovenian midfielder Jaka Bijol lifted CSKA 1-0 up in the 29th minute heading home from a corner by Ivan Oblyakov.

But Miguel Cardoso and Kirill Panchenko scored one apiece within the space of eight minutes to give Dynamo a 2-1 lead at half-time.

After the interval CSKA upped the pressure forcing Dynamo 'keeper Anton Shunin to produce a set of impressive saves before substitute Japanese striker Takuma Nishimura levelled with five minutes to go.