SAO PAULO (AP) Corinthians kept its five-point lead atop Brazil's first division, defeating Santos 2-0 on Sunday behind two goals from Jadson.
The key goal came on a penalty in the 79th minute in front of a crowd of 42,000 at the new Corinthians Arena in Sao Paulo.
Corinthians improved to 57 points in 27 matches and needed the victory with second-place Atletico-MG of Belo Horizonte crushing Rio de Janeiro club Flamengo 4-1.
Jemerson scored two goals and Datolo added the other for Atletico, which also got an own-goal from Marcelo. Paulinho scored Flamengo's only goal.
The top two clubs are pulling away at the top.
Gremio is nine points off the pace, while Palmeiras is 13 adrift and Sao Paulo 15 behind.
In other results Sunday: Goias 3, Joneville 0; Vasco 2, Sport 1; Avai 2, Sao Paulo 1; Chapecoense 0, Cruzeiro 2; Coritiba 2, Atletico-PR 0.
On Saturday: Palmeiras 3, Gremio 2; Internacional 1, Figueirense 1; Ponte 3, Fluminense 1.
Vitor Hugo, Rafael Marques and Lucas Barrios scored for Palmeiras. Luan scored twice for Germio.
Ricardo Oliveira of Santos leads all scorers with 17 league goals. Jadson of Corinthians has 11, Lucas Pratto of Atletico-MG has 10 and Alexandre Pato of Sao Paulo has nine. Vagner Love of Corinthians is next with eight.
