Sao Paulo, Brazil – A goal in each half from Ricardo Goulart helped Cruzeiro to a 4-1 win over Atletico Mineiro on Sunday, allowing the team to take over the top spot in the league.
Alecsandro fired Atletico into the lead from the penalty spot in the 17th minute, but Everton equalized in the 32nd for Cruzeiro before Goulart found the net for the first time shortly in front of the break.
Nilton's goal seven minutes after halftime increased the lead to 3-1 for Cruzeiro, and Goulart added another goal five minutes later to cap the win, which gives the club 18 points from its first nine games.
Internacional also has 18 points and has played one more match than Cruzeiro, but the club fell from the top spot after a 3-0 defeat at Nautico that saw the home side score all three goals in the last 18 minutes.
Sao Paulo's struggles continued with a 0-0 draw at Corinthians, leaving the club third from the bottom, while Gremio secured a 2-0 triumph over Fluminense behind second-half goals from Cristian Riveros and Kleber.
A pair of goals from Marquinhos was enough to lift Bahia past Goias, 2-1, Coritiba and Vitoria played to a 1-1 draw, as did Flamengo and Botafogo after Flamengo's Elias netted the equalizer in the 90th minute.
Atletico PR used second-half tallies from Delatorre and Leo to overcome a 2-1 halftime deficit and win 3-2 at Portuguesa, Edmilson scored the winning goal 18 minutes from time to help Vasco da Gama to a 3-2 victory over Criciuma and Rildo's 49th-minute strike was all that was required in a 1-0 win for Ponte Preta against Santos.
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