Brazil Serie A wrap: Herrera treble fires Botafogo

21 May 2012 02:30

Botafogo climbed to the top of the Brazil Serie A table after a 4-2 victory over Sao Paulo, while champions Corinthians lost to Fluminense.

Botafogo may have finished mid-table last year but they have made some noise during the off-season by chasing a series of big names including Arsenal's unsettled defender Andre Santos.

But the beach-side club may be better off settling with what they have after an impressive 4-2 victory to start the new season, the highlight of which was German Herrera's hat-trick.

Sao Paolo may have taken a first-half lead through Jadson's 12th-minue goal, but Botafogo fired up after the break as Herrera equalised within five minutes.

Former Sevilla man Luis Fabiano gave Sao Paolo the lead once again just after the hour but that just paved the way for Botafogo to score three goals in a blistering 10-minute burst, starting with a Herrera penalty.

Vitor Junio finally gave Botafogo the lead in the 73rd minute before Herrera completed his hat-trick five minutes later to take his side to the top of the table.

Corinthians may be in talks to sign AC Milan striker Pato and his arrival could not come soon enough after last season's champions slumped to a 1-0 loss to last-year's third-placed side Fluminense, through Leandro Euzebio's 73rd-minute goal.

Internacional may have just missed out on a Copa Libertadores position last year, finishing fifth by one point to Flamengo, but they started the new campaign in the best possible manner with a 2-0 victory over Coritiba that takes them into second via first-half goals from Leandro Damiao and Dagoberto.

Last season's runner-up Vasco Da Gama started this campaign positively through a 2-1 victory over Gremio, while Damien Escudero scored an injury-time winner for Atletico Miniero in a dramatic 1-0 victory over Ponte Preta.

And in the final two games on Sunday, clashes between Cruzeiro and Atletico GO, and Bahia and Santos, finished in goalless stalemates.