In-form Fluminense were the big winners in the Brazilian Campeonato at the weekend as they beat leaders Corinthians 1-0 and the rest of the top teams failed to triumph. Flu's victory - their fourth straight league win - lifts them to fifth in the table and they are now just six points off the pace. The only goal of the game came in the 22nd minute when Fred's free-kick took a wicked deflection off the wall and bounced into the net.
Vasco da Gama were unable to capitalise on Corinthians' defeat as they were held to a 1-1 draw at Figuerense. Both the goals came in the first 15 minutes as Wellington fired the hosts ahead and Fagner struck back for Vasco.
The most surprising result of the weekend came in Parana where Coritiba ended Botafogo's four-match winning run with an emphatic 5-0 hammering (See video at foot of article). Emerson gave the hosts the lead in the 43rd minute and the floodgates opened in the second-half as Marcos Aurelio, Bill, Rafinha and Everton Costa all found the net. Botafogo stay fourth despite the defeat, while Sao Paulo slip to third after losing 1-0 to Gremio, who have now won their last three league matches. Douglas scored the only goal of the encounter in the 64th minute when he received Julio Cesar's pass and smashed home.
Leandro Damiao scored a hat-trick to help Internacional beat Palmeiras 3-0 and Flamengo slipped to their fourth straight defeat, this time at home to Atletico Paranaense. Aguiar Heracles gave Atletico the lead and Joffre Guerron put the visitors 2-0 up early in the second-half when he chipped goalkeeper Felipe. Guerron was subsequently sent off in the 69th minute but Flamengo could only manage a late consolation through Welinton.
Santos stretched their unbeaten league run to six matches as an early goal from Borges helped them win 1-0 against Cruzeiro, who had both Leonardo and Fabricio sent off in the second-half.
Basement side America Mineiro were denied a vital victory after conceding two late goals to draw 2-2 with second from bottom Avai. Gilson opened the scoring in the eighth minute and Andre Dias doubled America's advantage before half-time. However, just as the home fans were dreaming of a fourth win of the season, William and Cleverson both found the net to equalise
Felipe scored in the 87th minute to salvage a 1-1 draw for Atletico Goianiense at Ceara, who went ahead in the first-half thanks to Egidio. Magno Alves scored twice to lift Atletico Mineiro out of the bottom four as they beat fellow strugglers Bahia 2-0.
