Striker Alecsandro scored twice as Vasco da Gama came from behind to defeat Fluminense 2-1 on Sunday to reach the Guanabara Cup semifinals and leave Fluminense in danger of elimination in the Rio de Janeiro state competition.
In the Sao Paulo state tournament, Corinthians beat Sao Paulo 1-0 to stay close to leader Palmeiras, which on Saturday thrashed Ituano 3-0 with a goal by recently signed Argentine striker Hernan Barcos.
The Guanabara Cup is the first stage of the Rio championship, and its winner will play for the state title against the Rio Cup champion later in the tournament.
Vasco, the runner-up in the Brazilian league last year, reached 15 points from five matches in Group B. Second-place Boavista has 11 points and third-place Volta Redonda has 10. Fluminense is fifth with seven points after only two wins in its five matches. It must beat Bangu in its final match and hope for others to lose. The top two finishers in each of the two groups advance to the semifinals.
Fluminense went ahead with a goal by playmaker Thiago Neves just seven minutes into the match at the Engenhao stadium. He fired a high shot from inside the area after a pass from former Portugal and Chelsea playmaker Deco.
Alecsandro equalized from close range in the 60th after a cross from right back Fagner, then scored the winner with a header off a corner in the 79th.
Fluminense had two players sent off in the final minutes. Defensive midfielder Edinho received his second yellow card in the 87th and former Brazil striker Fred got his second yellow in the 89th.
Vasco played without former Brazil midfielder Juninho, who was rested following the team's loss to Nacional of Uruguay in the Copa Libertadores on Wednesday.
Vasco played in honor of Wendel Junio Venancio da Silva, the 14-year-old youth squad player who collapsed and died in a practice session Thursday.
Also Sunday, defending Rio champion Flamengo beat Nova Iguacu 2-0 in the debut of former CSKA Moscow striker Vagner Love. Striker Deivid and midfielder Renato Abreu scored a goal in each half for Brazil's most popular club in Macae. Deivid's goal came after a passing combination between Vagner Love and Ronaldinho.
On Saturday, Uruguayan striker Sebastian ''El Loco'' Abreu scored a goal and Argentine forward German Herrera added two others to help Botafogo down Bonsucesso 4-1 at the Engenhao.
Botafogo, Flamengo and Resende all have 12 points from six matches in Group A. Resende will host Flamengo in the stage's final match, while Botafogo will play at already eliminated Macae.
In Sao Paulo, Danilo scored Corinthians' winner with a header off a corner in the 22nd minute at the Pacaembu stadium, giving his team its sixth straight victory against Sao Paulo at the stadium. Sao Paulo's last victory at Pacaembu, which is owned by the city but is used mostly by Corinthians, was in 2005.
Sao Paulo midfielder Jadson, newly signed from Shakhtar Donetsk, had a chance to equalize in the 44th but his penalty went over the crossbar.
Sao Paulo played a man down from the 59th after defender Joao Filipe was sent off for a hard foul on midfielder Jorge Henrique.
Corinthians got the win despite playing without midfielder Alex and strikers Liedson and Emerson, who were rested for the team's Copa Libertadores opener against Venezuela's Deportivo Tachira on Wednesday.
Corinthians also was still without former Brazil striker Adriano, who this week was ordered to stay at the team's hotel to lose weight. He was included, however, in the list of players who will participate in the Copa Libertadores.
On Saturday, Argentine striker Hernan Barcos made his first start with eight-time national champion Palmeiras and scored in the team's 3-0 win over Ituano at Pacaembu stadium in Sao Paulo. Barcos, who arrived from Ecuador's Liga de Quito as one of Palmeiras' top signings this season, had played a few minutes off the bench against XV de Piracicaba on Wednesday.
The result kept Luiz Felipe Scolari's side unbeaten in the regional championship and atop the 20-team standings with 17 points from seven matches. Corinthians also has 17 points, but trails on goal difference. The top eight will advance to the knockout round.
Defending champion Santos, also resting some regular starters ahead of the Copa Libertadores this week, defeated Linense 4-1 at Lins to move to sixth place with 12 points.
In northeastern Brazil, Paulo Roberto Falcao's Bahia drew Toninho Cerezo's Vitoria 0-0.
The Brazilian football season does not follow the European calendar and starts at the beginning of the year. Regional championships in the 26 states take place in the first few months, with the Brazilian league running from May until December.
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