Sao Paulo, Brazil – Luis Ramirez scored in the 80th minute as 0, on Wednesday to move two points clear of Vasco de Gama atop the Brasileiro.
Corinthians won for the third time in its last four, while Vasco was held to a 1-1 draw at Palmeiras, which got an 63rd-minute goal from Luan. Corinthians is two points clear of Vasco, with defending champion Fluminense still lurking as the season enters its final three weeks.
Fred scored four goals for Fluminense, including the final two in the 79th and 81st, to help his club top Gremio in a 5-4 thriller. Fluminense is five points off the top.
Elsewhere Wednesday, America Mineiro continued its remarkable surge as Kempes notched his 12th goal of the season and his club won its third straight over a top-five opponent, 2-1 win over Botafogo, to move closer to safety.
Gilberto scored early and Internacional beat Bahia 1-0 to end a two-game skid, Joffre Mendez scored early as Paranaense beat Sao Paulo 1-0, and Cruzeiro tied last-place Avai 0-0.
On Thursday, Figueirense extended its unbeaten streak to 14 games with a 0-0 draw with Flamengo, while Goianiense played to a 1-1 draw with Santos to snap a four-game losing streak.
And finally, Atletico Mineiro edged Coritiba on Thursday, 2-1, to secure its fourth win in its last five league matches and put an end to Coritiba's five- game unbeaten run.
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