Flu take pole from stuttering Corinthians

Flu take pole from stuttering Corinthians


Fluminense returned to the top of Brazil's Campeonato with a convincing 4-1 win at nine man Sao Paulo.

The home side had substitute Alexandre Xandao and Felisbino Richarlyson dismissed in the space of eight minutes midway through the first half, with the teams level. Sao Paolo's Lucas Gaucho had cancelled out Wellington Gum's 34th-minute opener for the visitors - but with two extra men Fluminense took control with goals in the last 15 minutes from Dario Conca (2) and Frederico Guedes.

Corinthians were dislodged from pole position after only managing a 1-1 draw at struggling Vitoria. Gabriel Danilo gave the visitors a 20th-minute lead but they were pegged back by goalkeeper Julian Viafara's penalty two minutes before half-time.

Cruzeiro moved to within a point of Corinthians, and two off Fluminense, after a 3-1 home defeat of Vasco da Gama in a game where all the goals came in the first half. Flores Roger, Lima Henrique and Edcarlos Conceicao had the points wrapped up with a little more than half an hour on the clock, before Renato Augusto's 44th-minute reply.

Junior Neymar's seven-minute hat-trick in the second half was the highlight of Santos' 4-1 win at second from bottom Goias. Lopes Ernando gave the hosts an 11th-minute lead but Da Silva Danilo levelled eight minutes later and that was how it stayed until Neymar took over 15 minutes from time.

Botafogo slipped up at home to Internacional, losing 2-1. Luiz Andrezinho and Rafael Sobis scored for the visitors in the second half, before Antonio Carlos netted.

Atletico Mineiro won 2-0 at Palmeiras with goals from Diego Souza and Neto Berola - either side of Junior Gualberto's dismissal for the home side, while Elton Eltinho and sub Rodrigues Gonalves Jefferson's late double gave Avai a 3-0 success against Atletico Goianiense, who had Thiago Feltri dismissed.