Gremio reclaim five point lead with Sao Paulo win

PORTO ALEGRE, August 18 (Campeonato Brasileiro) - Gremio reclaimed a five-point lead at the top of the Campeonato Brasileiro with a 1-0 defeat of two-time defending champions Sao Paulo in the 20th round on Sunday.

Edixson Perea scored a first-half winner as Gremio clinched their 13th win of the campaign to move to 44 points, five clear of second-placed Cruzeiro, who defeated Vitoria 2-1 on Saturday.

Both sides played the second half with 10 men after Gremio defender Leo and Sao Paulo attacker Dagoberto were sent-off for fighting late in the first half.

Gremio boss Celso Roth hailed the triumph.

'This is a great victory,' Roth said.

'Starting the second half of the championship this way is very important as Sao Paulo are direct rivals (in the fight for the title), but we cannot relax now.

'It was not the best match technically, but it was a very good performance by my team.'

Santos remained in the relegation zone following a 2-2 draw with Flamengo.

Leonardo Moura opened the scoring for Flamengo before Kleber Pereira's double put Santos in front.

Flamengo then had Cristian dismissed before Moura netted a late equaliser from the penalty spot.

Palmeiras remained third after a 1-0 win over Coritiba courtesy of Alex Mineiro's strike.

Palmeiras defender Fernando Capixaba was sent-off after 70 minutes but five minutes later Mineiro was on target to secure the win.

Vasco da Gama defeated Internacional 4-0 with an own goal, Edmundo, Eduardo Luiz and Jean contributing.

Paulo Henrique, Vitor and Paulo Henrique scored to help Goias defeat Nautico 3-0, while Alexis Stival 'Cuca' had a successful debut as coach of Copa Libertadores runners-up Fluminense, who saw-off Atletico Mineiro 1-0.

Finally, Botafogo beat Sport 1-0.