Defending champions Cruzeiro maintained a four-point buffer at the top of Brazil's Serie A football championship with a 1-0 victory against Santos.
Brazil international midfielder Ricardo Goulart broke the hosts' resistance just after halftime with a low left-footed shot after Willian's assist Sunday night, reports Xinhua.
The result at the Vila Belmiro stadium lifted Cruzeiro to 70 points with four matches remaining.
Sao Paulo remained second in the standings after defeating local rivals Palmeiras 2-0.
Former Sevilla striker Luis Fabiano and Rafael Toloi struck either side of halftime for the hosts.
Meanwhile, Flamengo rose to eighth with a 3-2 victory over Coritiba at the Maracana stadium.
In other matches Sunday, Vitoria won 1-0 at Chapecoense, Internacional beat Goias 1-0, Corinthians defeated Bahia 2-1 and Sport won 1-0 at Atletico Paranaense.
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors
Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share
Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor
Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements
Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app