Corinthians nets five

The Sao Paulo club fell behind after five minutes when Junior was on target for Goias, but the tide turned following the 37th-minute dismissal of Amaral for the visitor.

Corinthians levelled three minutes before half-time through Bruno Cesar and Iarley gave it the lead 10 minutes into the second half. Jorge Henrique added a third five minutes later before Iarley grabbed his second and substitute Boquita Silva wrapped up the emphatic win in the 83rd minute, having only been on the pitch for two minutes. The result leaves Corinthians just a point behind Fluminense with both sides having played 18 matches.

Botafogo moved into third place outright above Santos, but by just a point after it allowed a 2-0 lead to slip and had to settle for a 2-2 draw at home to Gremio.

Antonio Carlos and Herrera put the host in front inside 20 minutes but a brace from Jonas Oliveira (53 and 85) earned Gremio a point.

Vasco da Gama leapfrogged Ceara into seventh place by beating it 2-0. Ze Roberto got the seventh-minute opener and substitute Felipe Bastos secured the points with eight minutes left.