Robinho fires Santos to 1-0 win over Flamengo

A first-half strike from AC Milan loanee Robinho gave Santos a 1-0 victory over Flamengo in Brazil's Serie A football championship.

The 30-year-old forward Saturday fired into the bottom corner in the 24th minute from Geuvanio's cross to give Santos the win, reports Xinhua.

The result at the Maracana stadium lifted Santos to within four points of the fourth place - a position that would earn them a place in next year's Copa Libertadores.

"I have always dreamed of scoring goals at the Maracana. It's a legendary stadium," Robinho said later. "Today was a difficult game but we were able to get three important points."

Robinho has now scored seven times in 12 matches since joining his boyhood club on loan in August.

In other matches Saturday, Coritiba eclipsed Atletico Paranaense 1-0, Bahia held Fluminense 1-1, Sao Paulo won 1-0 at Gremio, Vitoria defeated Botafogo 2-1, Corinthians routed Sport 3-0, Criciuma overcame Atletico Mineiro 3-1, Cruzeiro beat Internacional 2-1 and Goias defeated Figueirense 1-0.