Brazil Serie A wrap: Santos see off Cruzeiro comebacks
9 August 2012 13:11
Santos have survived two comebacks by Cruzeiro to triumph 4-2 and claim just their second victory in seven Brazilian Serie A matches.
With their two best players Neymar and Ganso in London for the Olympics, Santos have had a tough month but finally had some joy on Wednesday with a two-goal victory over the visitors from Belo Horizonte.
Felipe Anderson got Santos going with a 22nd-minute strike before Cruzeiro equalised seven minutes later through Borges.
Victor Andrade put the home side ahead in the 32nd minute but Cruzeiro again fought back with a goal from Ceara six minutes after half-time.
Santos refused to be denied, with Durval and Bill scoring the decisive goals to move their team ahead of Coritiba and Recife on the Serie A table.
Santos have taken 14th spot with 16 points, while Cruzeiro sit eighth with 23.
League-leaders Vasco da Gama had to wait to knock off Recife 2-0, scoring both goals in the last half hour.
Juninho Pernambucano gave Vasco the lead away from home after 67 minutes before Carlos Tenorio wrapped up the win with an 85th-minute goal.
Vagner Love scored twice as Flamengo defeated Figueirense 2-0, while fifth-placed Internacional could only manage a 0-0 draw with 12th-placed Nautico.
In other Serie A results on Wednesday, Corinthians were held 1-1 at home by Atletico GO, Hernan Bacos scored twice as Palmeiras defeated Botafogo 2-1 and Bahia drew 0-0 with Portuguesa.
