Race row clouds big win for Atletico

BEIJING, May 5 -- Racist abuse from Atletico Madrid fans was upsetting and disappointing, French striker Florent Sinama-Pongolle said after Recreativo Huelva's 0-3 defeat in Madrid.

"I just don't understand that there are still people that go to football matches to insult people of another race," he said after Saturday's match.

"Atletico were rightful winners but I was upset by the racist abuse that you could hear from part of the crowd at the Calderon. It isn't right," said the former Liverpool player who has been linked with a move to Atletico.

Referee Miguel Angel Perez Lasa noted the incident in his match report, saying the crowd had made monkey noises when the player came near the stands. He ordered the match delegate to issue a warning on the public address system and said the noises then stopped.

Atletico has received a number of fines because of similar incidents at the Calderon in recent seasons.

On the field, two-goal midfielder Ignacio Camacho, who turned 18 yesterday, got on the scoresheet for the first time while fellow teenager Sergio Aguero weighed in with his 17th goal of the season.

Atletico has 58 points, three behind third-placed Barcelona and five clear of Racing Santander.

At the other end of the table Zaragoza snatched a last-gasp 1-0 win over Deportivo Coruna to quit the drop zone.

Zaragoza laid siege to the Depor area in the second half and looked as though it would be denied by a combination of brilliant keeping by Dudu Aouate and poor finishing.

But center-back Roberto Ayala stabbed the ball home from one metre during a goalmouth scramble four minutes into stoppage time.

Zaragoza rose to 16th, one spot above Recreativo and two higher than Osasuna.

Depor stayed seventh.

In France, Olympique Lyon missed a chance to close in on a seventh consecutive Ligue 1 title when it was held to a goalless draw at mid-table Nice on Saturday.

Lyon now has 73 points, five ahead of Girondins Bordeaux, with two games left.

Nancy moved up to third on 60 points with a 3-0 home win against second from bottom Racing Strasbourg.

Paris St. Germain gave away a late goal at Toulouse to draw 1-1 and stay third from bottom level on 39 points with Toulouse and Racing Lens.

(Source: Shanghai Daily/Agencies)