Traore on target as Anzhi scrape past Alania

KHIMKI, RUSSIA – SEPTEMBER 16: Ahmed Musa (L) of PFC CSKA Moscow battles for the ball with Simeon Bulgaru of FC Alania Vladikavkaz during the Russian Premier League match between PFC CSKA Moscow and FC Alania Vladikavkaz at the Arena Khimki Stadium on September 16, 2012 in Khimki, Russia.

Moscow, Sep 25 – An early strike from Lacina Traore proved enough for Anzhi Machakala to grab a 1-0 win away to Alania Vladikavkaz in a tense Caucasus football derby.

After winning a cagey game Monday that was the complete opposite of their 5-2 rout of FC Krasnodar last week, Anzhi go second in the Russian Premier League and are now one point behind leaders CSKA Moscow after nine games.

Guus Hiddink’s Anzhi are now five games unbeaten with four straight wins.

“It’s a very difficult place to play, they play with a lot of emotion,” Hiddink said.

“We managed to get an early goal and from there it was a good game for us.”

Traore scored the winner after seven minutes of the first half, latching onto a through ball from Joao Carlos to get in behind the Alania defence and strike a powerful left-footed shot past goalkeeper Dmitry Khomich.

Alania had chances to win the game and hit the woodwork twice, first when Danilo Neco seized on a slip from Joao Carlos to take a shot at the Anzhi goal but the post denied his powerful effort.

In stoppage time, Alania’s Rudnei rose above the rest to meet Roland Gigolaev’s free-kick, but headed it forcefully against the crossbar.