Mineiro fail to profit from Flu stumble

Atletico Mineiro missed the chance to go top of the Campeonato after slumping to a 1-0 defeat at ten-man Nautico Recife on Sunday. Mineiro are firmly in the hunt for their first championship title since 1971 and would have gone to the summit with victory over Nautico following leaders Fluminense's shock defeat against bottom side Atletico Goianiense on Saturday. But it was the hosts who took the lead thanks to Elierce Souza's 49th-minute strike and they managed to hang on, despite Josa Dos Santos' sending off in the closing stages. Gremio failed to close the gap on the two frontrunners after they were held to a 1-1 draw at Flamengo. The visitors had made the ideal start, taking the lead in the 18th minute through Marcelo Moreno but substitute Oliveira Adryan rescued a share of the spoils for lowly Flamengo after 62 minutes. Vasco da Gama remain in fourth after a 1-1 draw at Cruzeiro. Renato Silva put into his own goal in the fourth minute to hand Cruzeiro the lead but the visitors hit back through Junior Nilton (28) and a goalless second-half ensured the points were shared. Internacional overcame a two-goal half-time deficit to clinch a 2-2 home draw with struggling Sport Recife. The visitors sprang out of the traps with strikes from Rithely and Gilsinho in the 36th and 42nd minutes putting them in the ascension. However, substitute Cassiano halved the deficit in the 63rd minute and Leandro Damiao (76) prevented a surprise result. Brazil striker Neymar bagged a second-half brace as Santos came from behind to beat Coritiba 2-1. Deivid had given hosts Coritiba a ninth-minute lead but Neymar's strikes in the 71st and 83rd minutes completed the comeback. Strikes from Romarinho and Paulinho gave Corinthians a 2-0 win at struggling Palmeiras, who had Michel Luan sent off early on and remain level on points with bottom side Atletico Goianiense. Goals from Santos Helder and Claudio Pitbull helped Bahia claim a 2-1 win despite falling behind to Julio Cesar's opener for Figueirense, while Botafogo were held to a goalless draw at Ponte Preta. FIFA