IN BRIEF (Page 24)

Soccer

Real goes 10 points clear

MADRID: Real Madrid moved closer to retaining its Primera Liga title with a 2-0 win away at Racing Santander on Sunday.

Raul tapped in Robinho's cross early on and Bernd Schuster's men withstood some sustained pressure from Champions League-chasing Racing, before Gonzalo Higuain stroked in a second in injury time.

Real's players swamped the Argentine to celebrate as the victory put it 10 points clear at the top of the standings with five matches left to play.

"It's not in the bag yet, but this was another important step forward in a difficult stadium ," Real coach Bernd Schuster told Radio Marca.

Inter 6 points ahead

MILAN: Inter Milan took a big step towards retaining its Serie A title when Julio Cruz's header sealed a nervous 1-0 win at Torino on Sunday.

Roberto Mancini's side has moved six points clear of second-placed AS Roma, which drew 1-1 at home to lowly Livorno on Saturday and lost Francesco Totti to a serious knee injury.

With four matches left, Inter would have to completely lose its way to lose the Scudetto now, although it meets rival AC Milan in two week's time.

Earlier, Juventus striker Alessandro Del Piero hit a hat-trick in a 4-0 victory at Atalanta, which means third-placed Juve is almost assured of a Champions League qualifying place.

Kaka scored three, including two penalties, to help AC Milan keep their Champions League qualification hopes alive with a 5-1 win over relegation-threatened Reggina.

PSV crowned Dutch champ

THE HAGUE: PSV Eindhoven took the Dutch league title for the fourth year in a row with a 1-0 win over Vitesse Arnheim on Sunday's final day of the season.

Danko Lazovic's goal pushed PSV up to 72 points with fierce rival Ajax, 5-1 winner over Heracles Almelo, finishing on 68.

This was the 21st title since the club was launched in 1913 and it earned the side automatic qualification to the Champions League next season with Ajax in a four team play-off for the second berth.

Winning the league will go some way to offsetting the disappointment of PSV's UEFA Cup quarterfinal loss to Fiorentina.

This has been a turbulent period for PSV with former manager Ronald Koeman quitting the club to coach Valencia last October. He was succeeded by assistant and former Dutch international teammate Jan Wouters who in turn was replaced by Sef Vergoossen in January.

Golf

Weekley defends PGA title

HILTON HEAD, South Carolina: American Boo Weekley defended his first PGA title, firing a par 71 in Sunday's final round to win the $5.5 million Heritage Classic by three strokes.

Weekley began the day with a three-stroke lead at the $5.5 million event and ended it walking to the 18th green to a chorus of "boos", spectators calling his first name in a unique tribute contrasting most champions' cheers.

Weekley, who chipped in for pars on his final two holes last year to edge South African Ernie Els by a stroke, battled through a roller-coaster round of five birdies and five bogeys Sunday to finish on 15-under par 269.

"I didn't hit it real well," Weekley said. "I made some key putts and got it up and down. I struggled but I guess everybody struggled today."

Weekley birdied the second hole but followed with a bogey. He birdied the fifth but gave it back with a bogey at the eighth. A birdie to begin the back nine was followed by a bogey at 13.

(China Daily 04/22/2008 page24)