Midfielder Bruno Cesar scored a pair of late goals as Corinthians defeated Guarani 3-1 in coach Mano Menezes' last league match before taking over as coach of Brazil's national team.
Menezes accepted the Brazil job on Saturday and got Corinthians back atop the Brazilian league on Sunday, the day before he is officially introduced as the new national team coach.
Corinthians fans saluted Menezes, who walked around the field after the match waving at supporters in the grandstands. Players hugged Menezes and hoisted him into the air a few times.
Corinthians now lead the league with 24 points, one more than Fluminense.
Jorge Henrique opened the scoring with a close-range header off a corner a minute into the match at Pacaembu stadium. Guarani equalized via Mazola in the 64th, but Bruno Cesar gave Corinthians the win with a free kick goal in the 78th and a diving header in the 85th.
The four-time Brazilian champion was coming off its first loss in the competition on Wednesday, a 3-1 result at Atletico Goianiense.
Menezes will replace Dunga, who was fired after Brazil's disappointing 2-1 World Cup quarterfinal loss to Netherlands in South Africa.
Menezes was offered the job after Fluminense coach Muricy Ramalho rejected it because the club wanted him to honor a contract which runs until the end of 2012.
Fluminense missed a chance to remain atop the league following a 1-1 draw with rival Botafogo at Engenhao stadium in Rio.
Striker Emerson scored in the 62nd after Botafogo goalkeeper Jefferson gave the ball away while trying to put it back in play. Midfielder Edno equalized for Botafogo with a header in the 76th.
Botafogo's Somalia and Fluminense's Thiaguinho were sent off in separate incidents near the end of the match, which marked the debut of Emerson and former Chelsea and Barcelona right back Belletti with Fluminense.
Botafogo dropped to the relegation zone with the loss.
Third-place Ceara drew at home 0-0 with Palmeiras, which is yet to win since World Cup winning coach Luiz Felipe Scolari took over three rounds ago. Palmeiras, 10th in the standings, had defender Leo ejected in the 78th after receiving his second yellow card.
Internacional won its fourth in a row after the World Cup break by beating Flamengo 1-0 at Beira-Rio stadium in Porto Alegre, moving to fourth in the standings.
Santos ended a three-match losing streak with a 1-0 win over Sao Paulo at Vila Belmiro stadium. The victory came thanks to an own goal by Sao Paulo defender Renato Silva in the 61st.
Six-time champion Sao Paulo is yet to win in four matches after the World Cup and has dropped to 15th in the 20-team league.
Both teams rested several regular starters ahead of important matches on Wednesday. Sao Paulo faces Internacional in the semifinals of the Copa Libertadores, while Santos hosts Vitoria in the Brazilian Cup final.
Cruzeiro escaped with a 2-2 draw with Gremio in Sete Lagoas after midfielder Henrique scored his second goal of the match in the 86th.
On Saturday, Vasco earned a 2-0 victory over last-place Atletico Goianiense at Sao Januario stadium in Rio, while Vanderlei Luxemburgo's Atletico Mineiro was held to a 0-0 draw with Avai in Florianopolis and remained near the bottom of the standings. Vitoria, also without its regular starters, drew Prudente 0-0 in Presidente Prudente.
