Sao Paulo end winless streak, Palmeiras move off bottom
Brian Homewood
Brazil international midfielder Kaka inspired Sao Paulo to their first win in six games on Saturday, setting up two goals and scoring the other as they beat Flamengo 3-2 away in the Brazilian championship.
Four-times champions Palmeiras moved off the bottom of the table with a 2-1 win over Portuguesa while Vasco da Gama's win at Guarani could help club president Eurico Miranda's bid to be re-elected to Congress on Sunday, when Brazil holds presidential and legislative elections.
Sao Paulo had started the tournament as favourites but their winless run had put coach Oswaldo Oliveira in danger of joining the 14 coaches who have either resigned or been sacked since the championship began on August 11.
Former Flamengo striker Reinaldo put Sao Paulo ahead in the first half from a counterattack started by Kaka -- a reserve in Brazil's World Cup-winning squad this year -- and he doubled their lead early in the second half with an almost identical goal.
Liedson pulled a goal back with a bicycle kick but Kaka made it 3-1 shortly afterwards after Flamengo were again caught on the break.
Liedson scored his second in injury time, as Flamengo created the only two real chances they created in the whole game.
Sao Paulo moved up to sixth while Flamengo, Brazil's most popular team, dropped to 21st, only one point and two places clear of the relegation zone.
The top eight teams in the 26-team contest qualify for the quarter-finals and the bottom four go down.
DISMAL FORM
Palmeiras, whose dismal form has been the tournament's main talking-point, climbed to 23rd but are still in the relegation zone.
Juninho gave Palmeiras -- South American champions only three years ago -- a first-half lead but Alex equalised after a poor clearance from Brazil's World Cup goalkeeper Marcos.
Defender Alexandre headed the winner in the second half from a typical swerving corner taken by Paraguayan international Francisco Arce.
Political commentators said before Vasco's visit to Guarani that a win could be a boost for Miranda as the controversial president, who has already been elected to Congress twice mainly thanks to votes from Vasco supporters, attempts to hold onto his place on Sunday.
Miranda was an outspoken opponent of the Congressional commissions of inquiry which investigated alleged corruption in Brazilian football during 2000 and 2001.
Vasco's players gave Miranda a helping hand, beating Guarani 2-1 with first-half goals by Rodrigo Souto and Ramon.
Vasco, champions in 1997 and 2000, are struggling this year and are 19th despite the win.
Sao Caetano, runners-up for the last two years, went top after drawing 1-1 at Botafogo thanks to a second-half equaliser for Robert. Ademilson had given the home team a first-half lead.
The weekend's matches were all brought forward to Saturday because of Sunday's elections.
