IN BRIEF (Page 24)

Soccer

Insatiable Inter knocks Fiorentina out of title race

ROME: Inter Milan's seemingly relentless march towards the Serie A title continued on Sunday with a comprehensive victory over one of its main title rivals.

Inter was at its dominant best as it won 2-0 at Fiorentina, confirming its coach Roberto Mancini's pre-match assertion that the Viola are themselves not ready to challenge for top honors.

Cesare Prandelli's young team simply was not as powerful or effective as the visitors and went down to a pair of first-half goals from Chilean Luis Jimenez and Argentine Julio Cruz.

And this defeat, Fiorentina's second of the season, saw it slump to seven points behind league leader Inter, which also has a game in hand. Only Roma is keeping up with Inter at the moment.

Corinthians relegated in Brazil two years after title

RIO DE JANEIRO: Corinthians, one of Brazil's most popular club and champion two years ago, was relegated after drawing 1-1 at Gremio in its final game on Sunday.

Corinthians, winners of FIFA's Club World championship in 2000, began the day one point off the danger zone but was overtaken by Goias, which beat Internacional 2-1 with a three-time taken penalty.

Corinthians finished 17th in the 20-team first division with 44 points from 38 games and followed Juventude, Parana and America-Natal into Serie B.

Goias climbed to 16th with 45 points. Sao Paulo had already won the championship with four games to spare.

Lanus wins Argentine championship for 1st time

BUENOS AIRES: Modest Lanus won the Argentine championship for the first time in its 92-year history on Sunday, wrapping up the title with a 1-1 draw at Boca Juniors.

Tigre, the only team with a chance of catching it, had two players sent off in a 1-0 defeat at Argentinos Juniors.

Lanus, from the sprawling southern suburbs of Buenos Aires, finished its campaign with 38 points from 19 games, four ahead of Tigre and another three clear of third-placed Boca.

Lanus went ahead eight minutes before halftime when striker Jose Sand outjumped the Boca defense at a corner to head his 15th goal of the season.

Golf

Grateful Salter comes to life at Cambodian Open

SIEM REAP, Cambodia: Psychedelic rock band Grateful Dead and a spanking new golf putter inspired Bryan Saltus to win the Cambodian Open on Sunday, the American's maiden Asia Tour title.

The 36-year-old scooped the $47,550 top prize, beating Australia's Adam Groom into second place, with a winning total of 17-under par 271 at the Phokeethra Country Club.

"This is awesome. I would like to dedicate this win to Grateful Dead as they have inspired me all the way," Saltus said after winning Cambodia's first professional golf event.

"Siem Reap is right up my alley so I've enjoyed my time on and off the course this week."

Baseball

Astros sign Matsui to three-year deal

HOUSTON: Free agent second baseman Kaz Matsui has signed a three-year, $16.5 million contract with the Houston Astros, Major League Baseball said on its website (MLB.com) on Sunday.

"We just felt with the addition of (outfielder Michael) Bourn at top of the order, if we could come up with a solid run-producing second baseman, that would enhance our club," Astros general manager Ed Wade said.

The Japanese infielder played an important role for the National League champion Colorado Rockies in 2007, batting .288 with 37 runs batted-in. He also stole 32 bases and scored 84 runs, both career bests.

(China Daily 12/04/2007 page24)