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Digg ThisBy Brian Homewood
RIO DE JANEIRO, Sept 16 (Reuters) - Cruzeiro kept up the pressure on Brazilian championship leaders Sao Paulo by beating arch-rivals Atletico Mineiro 4-3 on Sunday.
The Belo Horizonte derby was marred by an ugly brawl near the end after Cruzeiro striker Kerlon performed his trademark dribble in which he runs past opponents bouncing the ball on his head.
Nicknamed the seal dribble, it infuriated Atletico's players who saw it as provocative and defender Coelho was sent off for hacking him down.
Tempers flared and a brawl erupted involving more than a dozen players.
"I don't think he should do that in a derby," Atletico goalscorer Marinho said. "I hope he learns, he could have got hurt."
Cruzeiro are nine points behind Sao Paulo, who beat Santos 2-1 on Saturday.
Striker Roni scored twice for Cruzeiro in the first 24 minutes, the second from a penalty awarded for a foul on Maicosuel which appeared to take place outside the area.
Atletico were level before halftime thanks to goals from Gerson and Marinho and went ahead early in the second half when Marinho converted another controversial penalty.
Cruzeiro hit back with two goals from substitute Guilherme to take the points.
Champions Sao Paulo, who have 57 points from 26 games, overcame Santos with goals early in the second half from right back Breno and striker Borges.
The only dampener came in stoppage-time when Rodrigo Tabata pulled one back for Santos to stop Sao Paulo keeping their 10th successive clean sheet.
Santos stayed third but Vanderlei Luxemburgo's team are 15 points adrift of Sao Paulo.
In other matches, Gremio won the Porto Alegre derby against Internacional 1-0 with an early headed goal by Leo while Flamengo and Vasco da Gama drew 1-1 in Rio de Janeiro.
Paulo Bonamigo became the latest coaching victim of the season when he was sacked by Goias after their 3-0 home defeat by Nautico on Saturday.
Uruguayan Beto Acosta scored the first two goals for Nautico, following up his four-goal performance against Botafogo the previous week.
