Monday September 7, 2009

Brazilian RUP: Sao Paulo beats Cruzeiro 2-1 in Brazilian league

SAO PAULO: Substitute striker Borges scored a late goal as defending champion Sao Paulo rallied to beat Cruzeiro 2-1 and stay close to the Brazilian league leaders on Sunday.

Palmeiras remained atop the 20-team standings by beating Barueri 2-1 Saturday with a goal by Vagner Love, recently signed on a loan from CSKA Moscow.

Palmeiras has 44 points, one more than Internacional and four more than Sao Paulo.

Borges scored Sao Paulo's winner in the 81st minute, only two minutes after entering the match at the Mineirao stadium in Belo Horizonte.

He struck the net from close range after a cross by striker Dagoberto, giving the six-time champion its first victory in three matches.

Cruzeiro opened the scoring thanks to midfielder Diego Renan in the 43rd, but substitute midfielder Marlos struck a low shot from just inside the area in the 64th to start Sao Paulo's rally.

The result halted Cruzeiro's six-match unbeaten streak.

The 2003 national champion, 13th in the standings, hasn't beaten Sao Paulo in 11 Brazilian league matches, since 2004.

Sao Paulo, trying to win its fourth Brazilian league title in a row, overcame fourth-place Goias, which allowed a late goal in a 2-2 draw to Coritiba at Serra Dourada stadium in Goiania.

Argentine striker Ariel Nahuelpan scored both goals for Coritiba, including the 86th-minute equalizer with a remarkable bicycle kick from near the penalty spot.

He had already scored with a close-range shot in the 17th.

Goias, which had won five straight at home, got on the board with striker Felipe in the 23rd and midfielder Leo Lima in the 44th.

Internacional remained close to Palmeiras with a 2-0 win over seventh-place Avai in Florianopolis.

Defender Fabiano Eller opened the scoring in the 34th and midfielder Magrao added to the lead in the 81st.

Internacional, which has won three in a row, played a man down from the 44th after the ejection of defender Indio, and two men down from the 83rd after defender Bolivar was red carded.

Flamengo, with striker Adriano unavailable because he is with Brazil's national team, drew Atletico Paranaense 0-0 at Arena da Baixada stadium in Curitiba, while fifth-place Atletico Mineiro took advantage of an injury-time goal by Diego Tardelli to beat Santo Andre 2-1 in Santo Andre.

Fluminense's disappointing season took another hit Sunday after a 1-1 home draw with Nautico.

The result kept the 1984 in last place with only 17 points from 23 matches, in serious danger of being relegated.

The game marked the debut of coach Stival Cuca with Fluminense.

On Saturday, former Brazil striker Vagner Love - returning to Palmeiras after several seasons with CSKA Moscow - converted a 73rd-minute penalty kick to help the four-time national champion beat Barueri 2-1 at a packed Palestra Italia stadium in Sao Paulo.

Midfielder Diego Souza had put Palmeiras ahead with a header in the 49th, while defender Leandro Castan scored Barueri's lone goal in the 86th.

Also Saturday, Gremio striker Jonas scored an 86th-minute goal to salvage a 1-1 draw against Vitoria at Olimpico stadium in Porto Alegre.

The result kept Gremio unbeaten at home in more than one year, and the match marked the debut of former Barcelona and Middlesbrough midfielder Fabio Rochemback with Gremio.

In Recife, Sport defeated Botafogo 2-1 in a result that left both clubs in the relegation zone.

Botafogo is in 18th place while Sport is in 19th. The bottom four clubs will be demoted to the second division next year.

In the round's early match on Wednesday, sixth-place Corinthians rallied with two late goals to beat Santos 2-1 at Pacaembu stadium.

Standings Sunday in the Brazilian first-division football championship:

GP W D L GF GA Pts

Palmeiras 23 12 8 3 35 20 44

Internacional 23 13 4 6 45 27 43

Sao Paulo 23 11 7 5 31 23 40

Goias 23 11 6 6 41 35 39

Atletico Mineiro 23 10 7 6 38 33 37

Corinthians 23 10 6 7 32 30 36

Avai 23 9 7 7 33 28 34