Italian defender Domenico Criscito scored one goal and set up another to give reigning champions Zenit St Petersburg a 2-0 victory over Dynamo Moscow on Saturday.
Russia forward Alexander Kerzhakov picked up a pass from Criscito, beat defender Leandro Fernandez and sent the ball into the top of the net on 10 minutes to open the scoring.
Criscito grabbed Zenit's second on 71 minutes, latching onto a cross from Igor Denisov before striking the ball past Dynamo goalkeeper Anton Shunin.
"We had a very good game and I want specially to praise the guys for playing very well in defense," Zenit coach Luciano Spalletti said.
Kerzhakov was criticized for poor finishing at Euro 2012, but is now the Russian Premier League's top scorer with three goals.
It was the second consecutive defeat for Dynamo, who lost 1-0 to 10-man underdogs Volga in their season opener.
"The cause for our misfortune lies in our irresponsibility near our own goal," said Dynamo coach Sergei Silkin.
On four minutes Zenit goalkeeper Vyacheslav Malafeev gifted the ball to Dynamo midfielder Zvjezdan Misimovic in the penalty area, but the Bosnian failed to score.
Dynamo German striker Kevin Kuranyi saw little of the ball, but missed his few chances, notably on the volley on 42 minutes.
Zenit completely dominated in the second half and Kerzhakov could have had a second on 60 minutes, but he missed the target with a low shot after beating three Dynamo defenders.
Malafeev deprived Dynamo of a stoppage time consolation goal with a spectacular save to deny Dynamo defender Gordon Schildenfeld's header.
In Friday's game, an 87th-minute header from Gheorghe Bucur was enough to give FC Kuban a 1-0 win over Mordovia Saransk.
Later Saturday's CSKA Moscow play away at Amkar Perm while Lokomotiv Moscow host Krylya Sovetov.
