Sao Paulo, Sept 19: Corinthians conceded the Brazilian league lead for the first time in 17 rounds on Sunday after losing 3-1 to Santos, allowing Vasco da Gama to move into the top of the standings.
Vasco took the lead by routing Gremio 4-0 on Saturday, and Sao Paulo also surpassed Corinthians and reached second place by defeating Ceara by the same score.
Vasco has 45 points from 24 matches, one point more than Sao Paulo and two more than Corinthians.
Also Sunday, Uruguay striker Sebastian “El Loco” Abreu scored as fourth-place Botafogo drew 1-1 with Ronaldinho's Flamengo, keeping the rival winless in nine matches.
Defending champion Fluminense had its four-match winning streak halted by a 3-0 loss to Bahia.
Corinthians opened the scoring with a goal by Liedson in the 12th minute at the Pacaembu stadium, but it allowed three unanswered goals for its fifth loss in seven matches.
There was a scary moment near the end of the match when former Spartak Moscow midfielder Alex hit his head on a defender's knee during a ball dispute and collapsed.
Doctors had to immobilize the Corinthians player and an ambulance was brought onto the field to take him to a hospital. Early reports said his injuries were not serious.
Santos equalized via midfielder Henrique in the 37th minute and Borges added to the lead in the 53rd before forward Alan Kardec sealed the victory in the 80th. Borges is the tournament's leading scorer with 17 goals.
Santos got the win despite playing a man down from the 61st after Henrique received his second yellow card.
The Copa Libertadores champion has won three in a row and hasn't lost in seven matches. It moved to 11th in the 20-team standings despite having two games in hand.
The team is still without injured Brazil playmaker Paulo Henrique Ganso, and young striker Neymar came off with an arm injury late in the second half on Sunday.
Corinthians' next match is against Sao Paulo, which moved ahead of the rival with the victory over Ceara at the Morumbi stadium on Saturday.
Brazil World Cup veteran midfielder Rivaldo scored one of the goals for Sao Paulo, which struggled early but cruised to victory after scoring two late first-half goals. The six-time national champion has won three of its last four matches.
In Rio, playmaker maker Diego Souza scored one of the goals for Vasco in the 4-0 victory over Gremio at the Sao Januario stadium, a result that kept the team unbeaten in three matches.
Vasco remains without coach Ricardo Gomes, who left the hospital on Sunday three weeks after suffering a stroke during a match last month. It remained uncertain when the former Brazil defender will be able to coach again.
Flamengo, Brazil's most popular club, was not able to put an end to its winless streak, drawing Botafogo at the Engenhao stadium and dropping to sixth in the standings.
Abreu put Botafogo ahead with a header from the six-meter (yard) line in the 25th, but substitute striker Jael dribbled past a defender inside the box and fired from close range to equalize in the 49th.
Botafogo, trying to win its first national title since 1995, is four points behind leader Vasco, but has a game in hand.
Also Sunday, Luiz Felipe Scolari's Palmeiras drew Avai 1-1 in Florianopolis despite having two players ejected.
The eight-time champion committed only four fouls during the entire match, but went a man down in the 25th when left back Rivaldo picked up a second yellow card. Then Gerley, who entered the match after Rivaldo was sent off, was red carded for a hard sliding tackle in the 50th.
Avai, in the competition's relegation zone, had substitute striker Rafael Coelho ejected with a straight red card in the 63rd.
Palmeiras is winless in five matches and is only eighth in the standings.
Fluminense had its four-game winning streak halted after the loss to Bahia in Pituacu. Defender Gum scored an own goal and was ejected in the 70th after committing a penalty that led to Bahia's third goal.
Also Sunday, former Brazil left back Kleber missed a second-half penalty kick and Internacional—unbeaten in five matches—couldn't get past a 1-1 draw with Coritiba at the Beira-Rio stadium in Porto Alegre. Cruzeiro, winless in four matches, was held to a 0-0 home draw by last-place America. AP
