MILAN, 24 November 2003 — AS Roma romped to a 4-0 win at Bologna yesterday to keep themselves within two points of Serie A leaders Juventus but there were ugly scenes as Lazio beat Perugia 3-1 in a match in which four players were sent off.

Goals from Francesco Totti, Vincenzo Montella and Christian Panucci gave Fabio Capello’s Roma a 3-0 lead at the break and Antonio Cassano added the fourth shortly after the restart.

Juventus, who won 2-0 at Modena on Saturday, lead with 26 points from Roma on 24 while AC Milan, who face Chievo later, have 21.

Inter Milan are in fourth place after their 6-0 victory over Reggina on Saturday.

Roma were at their devastating best against a Bologna side who are now facing the prospect of a fight against relegation.

Totti opened the scoring with a superb volley in the 15th minute before Montella made it 2-0, tapping home after Bologna keeper Gianluca Pagliuca had parried a shot from Cassano. It was not a fortunate afternoon for Pagliuca who again did well to keep out a header from Panucci but the Italy defender reacted quickly to hammer the ball home and give Roma a comfortable lead at the break.

Cassano, who recently made his debut for Italy, wrapped up the win with a fine solo effort four minutes after the restart.

Lazio’s win will be remembered not for some excellent finishing but for the angry clashes that soured the final half hour.

Roberto Mancini’s side went ahead through Dejan Stankovic just before the break but winless Perugia fought back with an excellent strike from Fabio Grosso in the 62nd minute. That should have set up a rousing finale but instead the match descended into chaos.

First Perugia’s Souleymane Diamoutene was sent off by referee Cosimo Bolognino for a late challenge on Lazio’s Giuseppe Favalli in the 71st minute.

Both teams were involved in clashes in the 84th minute with Perugia’s Giovanni Ignoffo and Lazio’s Sergio Conceicao dismissed after the fracas.

Three minutes later Bernardo Corradi put Lazio ahead with a beautifully struck shot from the edge of the area.

Empoli pulled off a 1-0 win at home to Parma with an injury time winner from Pasquale Foggia. It was their first success of the season.

Clinical Keane Inspires Spurs Comeback Against Villa

In London, in-form Irish striker Robbie Keane scored the winner as Tottenham Hotspur recovered from a goal down with 12 minutes left to beat Aston Villa 2-1 at White Hart Lane yesterday.

Keane, who scored twice in Ireland’s 3-0 friendly win over Canada on Tuesday, beat his marker and fired low into the net after 81 minutes to extend Villa’s stay in the English Premier League relegation zone.

Hapless Hibs Hand Victory to Hearts

Hearts moved to within six points of second-placed Rangers in the Scottish Premier League after two own goals gave them a 2-0 victory over Hibernian in the Edinburgh derby yesterday.

Hibs’ Austrian defender Alen Orman inadvertently gave the home side the lead after nine minutes and Gary Smith also put through his own net in the 67th minute.

Victory lifted Hearts’ points tally to 26 from 13 games. Champions Rangers (32) and leaders Celtic (37) both won easily on Saturday. Hibs stay eighth in the 12-team league on 16 points.