Super-sub Adriano snatched Corinthians a late victory over Atletico Mineiro that keeps them on course for the title.
Adriano came off the bench to score two minutes from full-time to give Corinthians a crucial 2-1 victory over Atletico Mineiro at the Pacaembu stadium on Sunday, a result that keeps them on track to win their fifth Brazilian championship.
With 67 points from 36 matches, Corinthians have a two-point advantage over their nearest rivals Vasco da Gama, with 65 points, with only two rounds left in the Brasileiro.
Vasco beat Avai 2-0, but need Corinthians to slip-up in at least one of their remaining two league matches in order to have any chances of lifting the silverware come the season's end.
Meanwhile, Fluminense kept their title aspirations alive by moving within five points of the league leaders, after thrashing Figueirense 4-0 thanks in great part to a superb hat-trick from Fred.
Vasco da Gama kept their title aspirations alive by beating Avai 2-0 at the Sao Januairo stadium on Saturday.
Despite the fact that Avai were down to ten-men with Junior Urso's sending off in the 20th minute, Vasco couldn't take advantage of the situation, after wasting several opportunities to go ahead in the first half.
Midfielder Felipe finally put them ahead in the 50th minute with an unstoppable shot that took heaps of pressure off the Rio de Janeiro side. Elton sealed the victory for Vasco in the 65th minute, when he connected to a precise cross with a powerful header.
With the win Vasco da Gama remain in the title race, however, they are still two points adrift from Corinthians. For Avai the result meant that they were relegated to the Brazilian second division.
Corinthians came from behind to defeat Atletico Mineiro 2-1 on Sunday, a result that puts them in pole position to lift their fifth Brazilian championship.
Former Brazilian international, Adriano, came off the bench to snatch Corinthians the three points in the 88th minute, to the joy of the capacity crowd at the Pacaembu stadium. Liedson had drawn Corinthians level ten minutes earlier with a diving hear, after Leonardo Silva had opened the scoring for the visitors with a header of his own in the 55th minute.
But Adriano, who had seen little playing time since undergoing tendon surgery earlier in the year, beat Atletico goalkeeper Renan Ribeiro with a left-foot shot from inside of the area to hand Corinthians a valuable victory.
Internacional edged Botafogo 2-1 at the Engenhao stadium in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday, to return to the privileged Copa Libertadores zone.
Strikers Leandro Damiao, 45th minute, and Oscar, 73rd minute, found the back of the net for Internacional to move them into fourth-place. Menezes pulled a goal back for Botafogo in the 76th minute to add some suspense to the match, but Inter managed to hang onto a valuable victory.
Inter, who contain an abundance of talent in their squad including Damiao, Oscar, Andres D'Alessandro, Pablo Guinazu and Jo, seemed out of contention for a Copa Libertadores berth, however, their recent revival means that once again they could feature in South America's biggest club competition next year.
Scoring-machine Fred found the back of the net three times as defending champions Fluminense crushed Figueirense 4-0 at the Orlando Scarpelli stadium in Florianopolis on Sunday.
Fred, who scored four goals as Fluminense edged Gremio 5-4 last week, was once again in spectacular form, scoring in the 47th, 56th and 85th minutes to keep Fluminense in with an outside chance at the league title. Marquinho converted Flu's other goal in the 72nd minute to silence the home crowd.
As well as dropping Figueirense down to fifth-place, the result also ended their impressive 13-match unbeaten streak. The good news, however, is that Figueirense still find themselves in the Copa Libertadores qualification zone.
Brazilian Championship - Round 36 Results
November 19
Gremio 1 - 3 Ceara
Sao Paulo 3 - 1 America
Vasco 2 - 0 Avai
November 20
Atletico-GO 0 - 0 Flamengo
Botafogo 1 - 2 Internacional
Corinthians 2 - 1 Atletico Mineiro
Cruzeiro 1 - 1 Atletico Paranaense
Bahia 0 - 2 Palmeiras
Coritiba 1 - 0 Santos
Figueirense 0 - 4 Fluminense
With 67 points from 36 matches, Corinthians have a two-point advantage over their nearest rivals Vasco da Gama, with 65 points, with only two rounds left in the Brasileiro.
Vasco beat Avai 2-0, but need Corinthians to slip-up in at least one of their remaining two league matches in order to have any chances of lifting the silverware come the season's end.
Meanwhile, Fluminense kept their title aspirations alive by moving within five points of the league leaders, after thrashing Figueirense 4-0 thanks in great part to a superb hat-trick from Fred.
Vasco da Gama kept their title aspirations alive by beating Avai 2-0 at the Sao Januairo stadium on Saturday.
Despite the fact that Avai were down to ten-men with Junior Urso's sending off in the 20th minute, Vasco couldn't take advantage of the situation, after wasting several opportunities to go ahead in the first half.
Midfielder Felipe finally put them ahead in the 50th minute with an unstoppable shot that took heaps of pressure off the Rio de Janeiro side. Elton sealed the victory for Vasco in the 65th minute, when he connected to a precise cross with a powerful header.
With the win Vasco da Gama remain in the title race, however, they are still two points adrift from Corinthians. For Avai the result meant that they were relegated to the Brazilian second division.
Corinthians came from behind to defeat Atletico Mineiro 2-1 on Sunday, a result that puts them in pole position to lift their fifth Brazilian championship.
Former Brazilian international, Adriano, came off the bench to snatch Corinthians the three points in the 88th minute, to the joy of the capacity crowd at the Pacaembu stadium. Liedson had drawn Corinthians level ten minutes earlier with a diving hear, after Leonardo Silva had opened the scoring for the visitors with a header of his own in the 55th minute.
But Adriano, who had seen little playing time since undergoing tendon surgery earlier in the year, beat Atletico goalkeeper Renan Ribeiro with a left-foot shot from inside of the area to hand Corinthians a valuable victory.
Internacional edged Botafogo 2-1 at the Engenhao stadium in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday, to return to the privileged Copa Libertadores zone.
Strikers Leandro Damiao, 45th minute, and Oscar, 73rd minute, found the back of the net for Internacional to move them into fourth-place. Menezes pulled a goal back for Botafogo in the 76th minute to add some suspense to the match, but Inter managed to hang onto a valuable victory.
Inter, who contain an abundance of talent in their squad including Damiao, Oscar, Andres D'Alessandro, Pablo Guinazu and Jo, seemed out of contention for a Copa Libertadores berth, however, their recent revival means that once again they could feature in South America's biggest club competition next year.
Scoring-machine Fred found the back of the net three times as defending champions Fluminense crushed Figueirense 4-0 at the Orlando Scarpelli stadium in Florianopolis on Sunday.
Fred, who scored four goals as Fluminense edged Gremio 5-4 last week, was once again in spectacular form, scoring in the 47th, 56th and 85th minutes to keep Fluminense in with an outside chance at the league title. Marquinho converted Flu's other goal in the 72nd minute to silence the home crowd.
As well as dropping Figueirense down to fifth-place, the result also ended their impressive 13-match unbeaten streak. The good news, however, is that Figueirense still find themselves in the Copa Libertadores qualification zone.
Brazilian Championship - Round 36 Results
November 19
Gremio 1 - 3 Ceara
Sao Paulo 3 - 1 America
Vasco 2 - 0 Avai
November 20
Atletico-GO 0 - 0 Flamengo
Botafogo 1 - 2 Internacional
Corinthians 2 - 1 Atletico Mineiro
Cruzeiro 1 - 1 Atletico Paranaense
Bahia 0 - 2 Palmeiras
Coritiba 1 - 0 Santos
Figueirense 0 - 4 Fluminense
