In the decisive result of week 26, Vasco Da Gama edged two points clear at the top of the table, belying doubts that their stint at the top was a temporary anomaly.
Having displayed resilience and consistency rarely seen in the Brazilian Serie A this sason, Vasco hold on to top spot for another round and will remain atop the pile till next weekend.
Their latest positive result was a very impressive 3-0 win at Cruzeiro on Sunday, built on the back of striker Diego Souza, who completed a hat-trick. His third strike came late in the game, just minutes after the home side had been reduced to 10 men following the dismissal of midfielder Antonio Marquinhos Parana who saw straight red. Cruzeiro drop to 16th spot, just one above the relegation fodder while Souza now has nine goals for the season, leading his club at scoring.
Elsewhere the same day, Gremio were putting the finishing touches to a 2-1 win at Avai through Douglas and Mario Fernandes while Pedro scored a late consolation for the home team. Two Sao Paolo teams both drew with Palmeiras tying again, held 1-1 at At Go (Henrique's goal for the visitors cancelled out by Thiago Feltri) and Sao Paulo being held 2-2 at Botafogo in a good result for both sides, but one that does neither any good.
Botafogo lose momentum from their rise to the top, remaining fourth, while Sao Paulo drop to third. Uruguayan marksman Seb Abreu scored a double to put Botafogo in the driving seat before a goal from Henrique, on the hour and a late leveller from Rivaldo ensured a share of the spoils.
Botafogo lose momentum from their rise to the top, remaining fourth, while Sao Paulo drop to third. Uruguayan marksman Seb Abreu scored a double to put Botafogo in the driving seat before a goal from Henrique, on the hour and a late leveller from Rivaldo ensured a share of the spoils.
Fellow Sao Paolo side Corinthians fared slightly better, edging visiting Bahia 1-0 with a goal from Emerson just before the hour. The same, Brazilian born, Qatari Emerson - who then got sent off seven minutes from the end for a straight red. Thanks to this win, their first in four games, Corinthians move back into second on 47 points, a point ahead of Sao Paulo in third with 46. Bahia drop a peg down to 15th
The remaining games that day saw Inter beat Atletico Mineiro 2-1 at home with Fabricio adding to Mario Bolatti's early goal for the hosts. In between, Renan Oliveira scored for Atletico. Inter remain seventh, Mineiro, 17th. Both Rever, for the visitors and Rodrigo Moledo, for Inter, were sent off.
In the late game, Ceara scored a timely win beating travelling Coritiba 3-2. Roger scored two goals, sandwiching a strike from Edmilson for the home side, while Bill replied with a double for Coritiba, who twice drew level. Promoted Coritiba remain in ninth spot while Ceara move upto 14th, five points clear of the drop zone.
On Saturday the three games saw a result of each kind with an away win, a home win and a draw. First up Figueriense halted the seemingly unstoppable Santos advance up the table with a crucial and electric 3-2 win at the Peixes home ground. Both sides traded goals with Santos twice equalising Figueirense's lead. Julio Cesar, after having given the visitors the lead, scored a late, late penalty to bring Fig victory, after Wellington Nem had scored their second goal. Earlier, Borges and Leo had scored for Santos, to keep the home side in the game at the half, 2-2.
Santos are stopped in their tracks and drop to 11th from ninth, just behind Fig who overtake them into 10th spot. This was their first loss in nine games and their winning streak was ended at four - during which time they had risen from the relegation zone to the top half. Borges continued his purplest of purple patches, netting for the sixth game in a row with his 11th goal in his last 10 games. Nem, too is scoring freely with his sixth in eight.
Flamengo finally got back on the winning trail, seeing off America at home, 2-1. Kempes had scroed an early penalty for the visitors before Devid and Thiago Neves turned things around. Flamengo half their slide of seven games without a win and hold steady in sixth. America are rock bottom.
In the final game on Saturday, At Para and Fluminense drew 1-1. Paulo Baier's opener cancelled out by Fred, who else, for the visiting side from Rio. Fluminense remain fifth, tied with Flamengo on 41 points.
Borges is almost out of sight with 18 goals, in the scoring lead.
Next weekend sees Fluminese hosts Santos on Saturday, Sao Paulo entertain Flamengo on Sunday and Vasco playing Corinthians in a first versus second clash in Rio.
The full table, results and fixtures can be found here.
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At least the top 13 sides will qualify for continental competition next spring while the bottom four teams will get relegated to the 2012 Serie B. Santos added to the four spots the league gets in the 2012 Copa Libertadores by winning this year's edition.
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Vasco Da Gama, who won the Copa Do Brasil, have booked a spot at the 2012 Copa Libertadores.
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