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Digg ThisRIO DE JANEIRO, July 13 (Reuters) - Flamengo stayed five points clear at the top of the Brazilian championship with an easy 3-1 win over neighbours Vasco da Gama on Sunday.
Ibson converted a penalty and Fabio Luciano took advantage of a mix-up in the Vasco defence to give Flamengo a 2-0 lead in the first-half at the Maracana.
Cristian put Flamengo further ahead with a long-range shot in the 63rd minute before Alex Teixeira scored Vasco's consolation late in the game.
Flamengo have 26 points from 11 games, five ahead of Cruzeiro and Gremio who both won.
Cruzeiro beat arch-rivals Atletico Mineiro 2-1 in Belo Horizonte, Ramires scoring the winner in injury-time, while Gremio came from behind to beat Portuguesa 2-1 with striker Marcel scoring both goals.
Botafogo squandered a two-goal lead in the last 15 minutes as they drew 2-2 at Santos in their first game under Ney Franco, their third coach of the season.
Ze Carlos scored with a free kick in the third minute and Wellington Paulista volleyed the second in the 17th minute as Botafogo got off to a flying start.
Santos, 19th in the 20-team table with eight points, salvaged a point with two late goals from Kleber Pereira.
Titleholders Sao Paulo moved to seventh with 17 points with a 2-1 win over neighbours Palmeiras while Fluminense, runners-up in the South American Libertadores Cup earlier this month, beat Vitoria 2-1 to move off the bottom of the table.
