Football: Signori goal boosts Lazio

OVERSEAS ROUND-UP

GIUSEPPE SIGNORI of Bologna did his former club, Lazio, a big favour yesterday by scoring a superb goal that halted Roma's six-match unbeaten run and allowed Lazio to knock their city rivals off the top of Serie A in Italy.

Alen Boksic and Dejan Stankovic were both on target as Lazio dispatched Fiorentina 2-0 at the Olympic stadium to overhaul Roma, who led Serie A on goal difference before the 1-0 defeat at Bologna, their first away defeat of the season.

Fabio Cannavaro scored his second goal of the season and Hernan Crespo took his tally to 10 as resurgent Parma claimed a 2-0 win at Venezia. Both sides finished the match with 10 men after the Venezia goalkeeper, Michael Konsel, and Johan Walem of Parma were sent off in the first half.

On Saturday Milan defeated Torino 2-0 with a third-minute goal from Oliver Bierhoff and a second-half penalty from Andriy Shevchenko. Three players were sent off as Lecce defeated Bari 1-0.

Deportivo La Coruna established a five-point lead at the top of the Spanish League yesterday after a 1-0 win at Real Sociedad, while troubled Real Madrid were held to a 1-1 draw at Racing Santander.

Deportivo were gifted a Jose Felix Guerrero own goal eight minutes before half-time which brought them three points. Celta Vigo remain in second after a 1-1 draw at Athletic Bilbao, with Real Zaragoza two points further back after a 3-3 thriller at home to Numancia.

Real Madrid climbed to 15th place but were denied three points when Vivar Dorado struck an 82-minute equaliser for Santander. Raul was on target for Real. Barcelona, beaten 3-2 on Saturday at Sevilla, who scored twice in the last 11 minutes, are sixth - 10 points behind the leaders.

A goal from the Bastia defender Frederic Mendy five minutes from time ended Monaco's nine-match unbeaten run in the French League yesterday. Mendy crashed home a volley in the 85th minute to preserve the Corsican side's unbeaten home record this season. Monaco still lead the league, however.

In the German Bundesliga Paulo Sergio scored twice and set up another goal for Roque Santa Cruz as Bayern Munich recaptured winning form with a 3-0 victory at Hansa Rostock on Saturday. Bayern, who had picked only one point from their last two games, top the table by two points from Bayer Leverkusen, who drew 2-2 at home to third-placed Hamburg yesterday.

PSV Eindhoven drew 1-1 with Utrecht to go top of the Dutch League on yesterday. They lead Ajax on goal difference, after the Amsterdam club's game at Twente Enschede was postponed because of feared crowd trouble.

n Raja Casablanca of Morocco will join Manchester United in next month's World Club Championship in Brazil after becoming the African champions for the third time. Raja beat Esperance of Tunisia on penalties after a 0-0 second leg draw.