Sao Paulo missed an opportunity to go to the top of the Campeonato and it took a late Rivaldo equaliser for them just to draw 2-2 at home against Atletico Paranaense.
The result took Sao Paulo to one point behind co-leaders Corinthians and Flamengo, who both have a game in hand.
Strugglers Atletico went ahead after 21 minutes when Fransergio got ahead of his marker to head in from a free-kick, but the lead lasted just three minutes before Ilsinho cracked in a superb 22-yard strike after creating space for the shot with some neat footwork.
The visitors regained the lead after 77 minutes when Edigar drilled a left-footed shot low past Rogerio Ceni, but substitute Rivaldo, the 39-year-old former FIFA world player of the year, bundled home a last-minute leveller to earn the draw.
Botafogo climbed two places to move to fourth in the table after a 4-2 home win over America Mineiro, in which they fell two goals behind inside eight minutes but came back strongly.
Alessandro netted after two minutes and Rodriguinho doubled America's lead in the eighth minute, but Botafogo pulled a goal back through Elkeson after 31 minutes.
The hosts grew in strength after half-time and levelled through Antonio Carlos in the 63rd minute before Alex scored twice, in the 76th and 79th minutes, the second a penalty, to take the game away from America.
Cruzeiro crushed Avai 5-0, with goals from Fabricio, Anselmo Ramon, Walter Montillo, Thiago Ribeiro and Jose Maria Ortigoza.
Montillo's goal, Cruzeiro's third, was a penalty in the 44th minute after Wellington Paulista was brought down by Welton Felipe, who was sent off.
Ortigoza's strike, a curling left-footed shot from the right into the far top corner, was the pick of the goals.
Atletico Goianiense beat Santos 2-0, with second-half goals from Anselmo, in the 69th minute, and Diogo Campos, in the 80th minute.
