RIO DE JANEIRO: Argentine forward Jose Manuel Lopez scored a first-half winner as reigning champions Palmeiras clinched a 1-0 win at Vasco da Gama in Brazil's Serie A championship.
Lopez gave his side the lead in the 26th minute when he intercepted an errant backward pass from Rayan and dribbled into the 18-yard box before calmly slotting his shot into the near corner, reports Xinhua.
The result leaves Palmeiras second in the 20-team standings with 53 points from 27 games, three points behind leaders Botafogo. Vasco are 10th, 18 points further back.
"We can't afford to look too far ahead, " Palmeiras coach Abel Ferreira told a post-match news conference. "It's about playing one game at a time. Right now Botafogo are ahead on their own merit but we are here to fight until the end."
In other Brazilian Serie A fixtures on Sunday, Internacional won 3-1 at Sao Paulo, Criciuma were held to a goalless home draw by Athletico Paranaense, Gremio won 3-2 at home to Flamengo, Cruzeiro drew 0-0 at Cuiaba, and Atletico Mineiro prevailed 3-0 at home to Bragantino.