Spartak Moscow continued their 100 per cent start to the Champions League as they brushed aside MSK Zilina.
Brazilians provide finishing to keep up Russians' stellar start
Spartak Moscow continued their 100 per cent start to this season's UEFA Champions League campaign as they brushed aside MSK Zilina.
In Tuesday's early kick-off, the Russian superpowers had too much for their Slovakian opponents to handle as they eased to a 3-0 win at the Luzhniki Stadium.
Ari put the home team ahead with a looping header in the 34th minute, then tapped in the second goal from close range just after the hour.
Brazilian substitute Ibson added a third one minute from time, giving the Spartak six points from the first two games following their 1-0 win French champions Marseille a fortnight ago.
Tuesday's result puts the Russians in a commanding position in Group F and they sit top of the pile with Chelsea and Marseille playing later in the evening.
Whipping boys
Zilina journeyed to Russia on the back of a 4-1 mauling at home to Premier League champions Chelsea last time out and they did little to downplay their tag as the group's whipping boys in Moscow.
The hosts were quickly into their stride and Aiden McGeady, the marquee signing from Celtic, combined with Alex in the 11th minute before the Spartak captain grazed the bar with a long-range shot.
The home team continued to dominate and the Russians were rewarded for their pressure when Alex's pinpoint corner from the right picked out Ari at the backpost and the Brazilian striker's looped his header beyond goalkeeper Martin Dubravka.
Zilina lacked any goal threat during the first period but the Slovaks came out in the second half pumped up and were bossing proceedings with half-time substitute Momodou Ceesay causing problems to Spartak's rearguard.
And the visitors carved out their first genuine chance of the match on 54 minutes when Emil Rilke went through on goal but his chipped effort failed to trouble goalkeeper Andriy Dykan.
Made to pay
And Zilina were made to pay for not taking their chance when Ari added his second of the evening on 61 minutes.
The 24-year-old front man made a clever run to the backpost and he was picked out by Evgeni Makeev's drilled cross from the left allowing the number nine to tap in an easy finish.
Spartak were by no means controlling the second-half as they did in the previous 45 minutes, but they managed to add gloss to their second victory of the competition via Ibson's delightful strike in the 89th minute.
The Brazilian substitute was teed up by fellow second-half introduction Christian Maidana and the 26-year-old midfielder made no mistake as he guided the ball into the back of the net.
Spartak's pristine start to their European endeavours will come under serious scrutiny when they take on Chelsea in matchday three, while Zilina will be desperate to get on the board when they face Marseille in their next game.
