Krasnodar took advantage of Russian Premier League leaders Zenit slipping up to keep their faint title hopes alive with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Arsenal Tula.
Second-placed Krasnodar moved to within six points of Andre Villas-Boas' side thanks to goals from Roman Shirokov, Ari and Ricardo Laborde, but they have plenty of work to do with just four games remaining.
The victory cuts Zenit's lead at the top by two points after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Spartak Moscow, their third draw in four matches.
Things could have been much worse for Villas-Boas, though, had Hulk not come to the rescue with an equaliser in the final minute, the Brazilian's 13th of the season cancelling out Romulo's 48th-minute opener.
Defending champions CSKA Moscow have conceded second place and potential UEFA Champions League qualification to Krasnodar in recent weeks, but they remain four points off Oleg Kononov's men after a 3-1 win over Ural.
Amkar were on course to beat Lokomotiv Moscow thanks to a penalty from Georgi Peev, but his dismissal turned the tide in Lokomotiv's favour and they snatched a 1-1 draw in the fourth minute of stoppage time thanks to Alexander Samedov.
