Zenit St Petersburg pulled five points clear at the top of the Russian Premier League with a 2-1 win at Orenburg on Sunday, as second-placed Spartak Moscow crashed to defeat at home by Akhmat Grozny.

Alexander Erokhin scored both Zenit goals in the first half as Sergei Semak's men extended their unbeaten run to seven league matches this season, with six victories.

In Moscow, midfielder Anton Shvets hammered home from close range with just five minutes to go to grab Akhmat a shock 2-1 success.

Zenit are now the only unbeaten team in the division, while Spartak could be overtaken when Rostov, who are a point behind the capital club, visit Ural Yekaterinburg on Monday.

In Orenburg, Erokhin opened the scoring with a close-range header in the 14th minute, and added his second after being teed up by Russian international striker Artem Dzyuba on the stroke of half-time.

Orenburg full-back Adessoye Oyewole reduced the arrears three minutes after the interval, but Zenit held on.

"It was a difficult but deserved win," Zenit manager Semak said. "We created plenty of chances to score (a third goal) and avoid the nervy ending."

Spartak dominated at their Otkrytie Arena, but fell behind when Akhmat's Brazilian defender Rodolfo scored from the penalty spot in the 20th minute after a foul on Bernard Berisha.

Spartak skipper Georgi Dzhikiya equalised 11 minutes into the second half by heading in Fernando's corner.

The home team pressed for the winner, but Shvets grabbed Akhmat all three points.

"A win always make you happy," said Akhmat head coach Rashid Rakhimov. "We made plenty of mistakes at the start of second half, allowing Spartak to level. Luckily we scored again."