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Flamengo fail to profit from Sao Paulo slip

Leaders Sao Paulo, who had won four of their previous five matches, went down 3-2 to relegation-threatened Botafogo in Rio earlier in the day.

Flamengo failed to find a way past Goias keeper Harlei in front of a crowd of 84,000 at the Maracana and had to settle for a point.

Title holders Sao Paulo lead with 62 points, one more than Flamengo with two matches to go, while Internacional climbed to third with a 1-0 away win over Atletico Mineiro in Belo Horizonte.

Inter are level on 59 points with fourth-placed Palmeiras, who lost 2-0 away to Gremio in midweek.

"We haven't lost anything yet, we had to win our last three matches, we didn't manage that, but we still managed to get one point closer to Sao Paulo," said Flamengo midfielder Kleberson.

Adriano squandered Flamengo's best chance 10 minutes from the end when he shot wide from Chilean Gonzalo Fierro's cross.

By then, both sides were down to 10 men after the dismissals of Sao Paulo's Richarlyson and Juninho of Botafogo. Botafogo substitute Rodrigo Dantas was also shown the red card in stoppage time.

"We won more than a title, we managed to fight to the end and beat the leaders. Now we must rest because we have another battle ahead," said Renato, who headed Botafogo's second goal from Jobson's cross.

Fred struck his 11th goal in 12 matches, Argentine playmaker Dario Conca also scored and an own goal by defender Ze Antonio gave "Flu" a 3-0 win away to relegated Sport Recife, who are seven points adrift at the bottom.