Belo Horizonte, Brazil (SportsNetwork.com) - Cruzeiro claimed its second consecutive Brazilian league title on Sunday after earning a 2-1 win over Goias at the Mineirao Stadium.
After stumbling to a 2-0 defeat against Atletico Mineiro in the Copa do Brasil on Nov. 12, the league leaders bounced back nicely with three straight wins in league play to earn their fourth league title in club history with two games to play.
The four-time champions are now seven points clear of second-place Sao Paulo and can finish the league campaign with a maximum of 82 points.
Goias gave Cruzeiro a good battle in the early stages, but the champions claimed the opening goal after just 12 minutes through Ricardo Goulart. 10 minutes later, however, Goias battled back with an equalizer through Samuel.
But Cruzeiro seized control of the match in the second half and Everton Ribeiro netted the championship-clinching goal in the 64th minute with a fierce header following a cross from Willian.
Goias suffered its third straight defeat in league play to remain in 13th place in the table with 44 points.
Also in Brazil on Sunday, Pablo scored on either side of the intermission to lift Figueirense to a 2-0 win over Vitoria, while Elton and Cleber Santana traded goals as Flamengo and Criciuma played to a 1-1 draw.
Gabriel Boschilia's 55th-minute goal held up as the winner for Sao Paulo in a 1-0 result over Santos, while Sport Recife and Fluminense battled to a 2-2 stalemate.
Leandro scored a pair of second-half goals as Chapecoense handled Botafogo by a 2-0 score line, while Jose Paolo Guerrero lifted Corinthians to a 1-0 win over Gremio. Sunday's finale saw Coritiba earn a 2-0 win over Palmeiras courtesy of goals from Ze Eduardo and Diederrick Joel.
On Saturday, Rafael Moura and Fabricio scored to give Internacional a 2-1 win over Atletico Mineiro, while Atletico PR claimed a 2-1 win against 10-man Bahia.
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