MOSCOW - Reigning champions Lokomotiv Moscow enjoyed a winning start to the new Russian Premier League season on Saturday beating newcomers Tomsk 2-0.
Lokomotiv were dominant from the start and grabbed a 1-0 lead through striker Igor Lebedenko who swept in a rebound after 32 minutes.
In the second half, the hosts were still in command and in the 64th minute Dmitry Loskov increased Lokomotic's lead with a powerful shot from a freekick.
Nine-time champions Spartak Moscow suffered a 2-0 defeat at the hands of city rivals FC Moscow who opened the scoring after 24 minutes with an unopposed shot from 12 metres.
Spartak poured forward seeking an equaliser and created a set of scoring chances including a missed spotkick in the 34th minute.
Spartak continued to pressurise after the restart but Dmitry Kirichenko stunned the virtual hosts again firing in from six metres after Spartak's mixup in defence 10 minutes after the break.
Dynamo Moscow, who narrowly avoided relegation last season, continued their streak of poor performances, falling 4-1 to the hosts at Saint Petersburg.
Croatian defender Ivica Krizanac netted the hosts first goal of the season 38 minutes into the match, while Russian internationals Andrei Arshavin and Alexander Kerzhakov underlined Saint Petersburg dominance, scoring one apiece within a three-minute interval just after the halftime break.
Dynamo defender Nuno Frechaut reduced the arrears with a close-range header from a corner with 30 minutes remaining, but Pavel Mares restored the hosts three-goal lead 14 minutes later.
03/12/2005 17:22 GMT