Japan playmaker Keisuke Honda capped a commanding performance with two goals to edge CSKA Moscow past 10-man Alania Vladikavkaz and send his team to second place in the Russian Premier League on Sunday.
The 26-year-old midfielder put CSKA in front right after half time, collecting a long pass from Alan Dzagoev before a clever one-two with Ahmed Musa and a pinpoint finish from the edge of the penalty area.
His second came six minutes before the end, finding a tapping home a low cross from Musa, unmarked at the back post.
Alania had former CSKA defender Deividas Semberas sent off in injury time for two yellow cards.
It was a fifth-straight win for Leonid Slutsky's side, who also haven't conceded in their last five.
They move from fourth to second, overtaking Lokomotiv Moscow and Zenit St. Petersburg, a point behind surprise leaders Terek Grozny.
Alania remain tenth.
Dzagoev missed an early chance to put the hosts ahead, taking down a long ball beautifully before a defender got back to intercept.
At the other end, Brazilian striker Danilo Neco was inches away from connecting with a whipped-in cross from Vladimir Khozin.
Musa had a vicious 15th-minute effort turned around the post by Dmitry Khomich in the Alania goal. The Nigerian turned a defender well on the half hour but had his shot blocked.
Honda cut inside from the left to test Khomich with a stinging drive moments later.
CSKA nearly paid the price for their profligate finishing when Neco was denied by a superb diving save by Igor Akinfeev after sauntering effortlessly past Marcus Elm and Mario Fernandes.
Sanzhar Tursunov blazed wide from the follow-up with the goal at his mercy.
Honda put the hosts ahead on 50 minutes, starting and finishing a move of sublime simplicity.
Alania continued to look dangerous on the counterattack, however, with Priskin shooting over after Tursunov had scythed through the CSKA defense.
Tosic placed a left-footed shot into Khomich's grateful arms before the former Manchester United winger scuffed wide from a good position.
Musa spurned another opportunity moments later, firing wide after a defense-splitting through ball from Dzagoev.
Alania miraculously averted conceding a second on 72 minutes when Alexei Berezutsky's header cannoned back off the crossbar, and Marcus Elm's close-range shot was cleared off the line by Zaurbek Pliev.
But the incessant pressure was too much for Alania, who conceded the second on 84 minutes.
CSKA had a third disallowed two minutes from time when Berezutsky was adjudged to have fouled Priskin before lashing home from close range.
CSKA coach Slutsky had some bad news too, however, as Chilean winger Mark Gonzalez, only recently back from long-term injury, limped off seven minutes after coming on as a second-half substitute.
