Corinthians beat Fluminense to close gap

Corinthians took a big step in their bid to win the Brazilian championship in their centenary year with a 2-1 away win over leaders Fluminense last night.

The second-placed team from Sao Paulo moved within a goal of Flu, who just managed to protect their better goal difference with a late strike by Washington.

"The weight (of the defeat) is very heavy," said Washington, the championship's leading scorer with 10 goals.

"The least we should have done, playing at home, was to maintain our (three) points difference from them."

After 22 matches Flu and Corinthians, who have a game in hand, are on 41 points. Cruzeiro have 40 and Botafogo 37.

Despite the importance of the match, only 20,000 turned up at Botafogo's Enganhao ground which Fluminense have been obliged to use after the giant Maracana was closed for 2014 World Cup refurbishments.

Corinthians, having to do without injured former Brazil striker Ronaldo (thigh), opened the scoring shortly before halftime after midfielder Jucilei controlled the ball on his chest and volleyed it past goalkeeper Fernando Henrique.

With Flu opening up in search of an equaliser, the visitors increased their lead in a counter-attack 20 minutes into the second half when fullback Alessandro crossed from the right to striker Iarley, who steered the ball in.

Washington pulled one back five minutes later for Flu.

Flu midfielder Deco, a recent recruit from Chelsea, had a disappointing game against the side that launched him to fame.

The championship race was made tighter by Cruzeiro's 4-2 win over Guarani, their fifth victory in a row, putting them a point behind the top two in third place.

Botafogo remain in fourth, three points further back despite a 4-1 defeat away to lowly Goias.

At the other end of the standings, champions Flamengo scored through Toro four minutes into stoppage time for their first victory in seven matches, a 2-1 win over Gremio Prudente.

The win moved Flamengo away from the relegation zone to 14th, 15 points off the pace.