Forward Ari and Swedish international Viktor Claesson scored one apiece to steer Krasnodar to their first ever away win over CSKA after Croatian midfielder Nikola Vlašić had given the Muscovites the lead.

Krasnodar moved into second, three points behind Zenit, who can restore their six-point advantage on Monday when they visit struggling Samara.

Reigning champions Lokomotiv Moscow, who thrashed Yenisey Krasnodyarsk 3-0, sit third, one point further back.

“It’s a very important win for us,” Krasnodar head coach Oleg Fomenko said.

“After CSKA scored, my men reacted in the right way. They gave all they had on the pitch and claimed a deserved win. It’s a great success for us.”

CSKA, spurred on by the 22,000 home crowd, dominated play and possession, with Vlašić finally breaking the deadlock in the 54th minute, hammering the ball off the left post with a low shot from 22 yards out.

In the 79th minute Vladislav Ignatiev found the unmarked Ari in the area, and he sent the ball into the net from just outside the six-yard box to level for Krasnodar.

Two minutes later Claesson netted Krasnodar’s winner, firing the ball under the crossbar from close range off a pinpoint right-wing cross by Ari.

Earlier, Lokomotiv Moscow extended their winning league streak to four matches with a 3-0 defeat of last-placed Yenisey Krasnoyarsk.

Aleksei Miranchuk lifted Lokomotiv 1-0 up in the 22nd minute with a low shot from 15 yards out.

Portuguese internationals Manuel Fernandes and Eder then netted one apiece within the space of three minutes to secure Lokomotiv’s well-deserved win.

“I’m pleased with my men’s commitment and enthusiasm,” Lokomotiv head coach Yuri Semin said. “We’ve managed to convert almost all of our chances and that was the key to our win today.”