Sao Paulo, Brazil (SportsNetwork.com) - A pair of second-half goals from Leandro Damiao lifted Santos to a 2-0 home win over Botafogo, a result that drops the visitors from the top flight.
The defeat is Botafogo's 22nd of the season and it leaves the club six points from safety with just one match to play, while the win is the first for Santos in eight games.
Following a scoreless first half, Damiao broke the deadlock in the 48th minute when he was able to send a curling shot beyond the reach of Botafogo goalkeeper Jefferson.
Damiao then added a second tally in the closing minutes to wrap up the win when he hammered a shot into the roof of the net after fluffing his first attempt.
Bahia remained alive in the fight for survival as the team grabbed a 1-0 victory over Gremio to stay within two points of safety.
Gremio was reduced to 10 men just 28 minutes into the contest when Pedro Tonon Geromel saw red. And Bahia took advantage three minutes later with Rafael Galhardo finding the net to hand his team three precious points.
Vitoria was hammered 4-0 at Flamengo to remain in a precarious position heading into the final round, while Palmeiras also failed to secure safety after losing 3-1 at Internacional.
Champions Cruzeiro played to a 1-1 draw at Chapecoense and Lucca scored twice in the second half to help last-place Criciuma salvage a 2-2 draw with Sport Recife.
Sao Paulo locked up second place after a 1-1 draw with Figueirense, while Corinthians was thrashed 5-2 at Fluminense as Fred converted a pair of second- half penalty kicks.
Coritiba edged Atletico Mineiro, 2-1, with goals from Carlinho and Leandro Almeida, while Marcelo's 62nd-minute goal was enough to lift Atletico PR to a 1-0 win over Goias, which finished the match with nine men.
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