Flu claim top spot from stuttering Cruzeiro

Flu claim top spot from stuttering Cruzeiro


Fluminense twice came from a goal down to claim a point away to Atletico Paranaense which took them to the top of Serie A with seven games of the season to go.

The Rio de Janeiro side fell behind when Paulo Baier gave Atletico a 62nd-minute lead but Marquinho levelled seven minutes later. Wagner Diniz restored the home side's advantage with seven minutes to go but Flu refused to fold and equalised again through a Conca penalty in the 87th minute.

The point took Fluminense above Cruzeiro on goal difference as the latter lost 4-3 at home to Atletico Mineiro. Manoel Obina's hat-trick inside the first 30 minutes put Atletico in control with Gilberto pulling one back for Cruzeiro (36). Rever made it 4-1 before Thiago Ribeiro gave Cruzeiro hope with a late double.

A goal from Bruno Cesar midway through the first half was enough to earn Corinthians victory in the Sao Paulo derby against Palmeiras, a result which took them a point behind Cruzeiro.

Santos lost ground as they suffered a shock 3-2 defeat at home to bottom side Gremio Prudente. Santos led 2-0 thanks to first-half goals from Keirrison and Durval but a second-half double from Wesley pulled the visitors level and Gilmar's 55th-minute penalty gave them the lead which they managed to hold onto despite the dismissals of Leonardo and Boaventura.

Honours were even in the Porto Alegre derby between Gremio and Internacional, with the former as hosts overcoming the sending-off of Fabio Rochemback in the 64th minute to earn a 2-2 draw.

In Sunday's other matches, Ceara beat Sao Paulo 2-0, Vasco da Gama and Flamengo drew 1-1 and Goias were 1-0 victors over Avai.