Romario hat trick lifts Vasco de Gama over Madureira

RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) -- Irrepressible striker Romario scored his second hat-trick of the year to propel Vasco da Gama to a 4-1 win over Madureira on Sunday and take his career tally, according to his own calculations, to 995 goals.

The 41-year-old former Brazil striker scored two typically opportunist goals and a penalty in a 13-minute spell during the second half of the Carioca (Rio de Janeiro state) championship match.

Muriqui gave Madureira a shock half-time lead and Leandro Amaral equalised for Vasco early in the second half before the 1994 World Cup winner sprang into action.

Romario opened his account when he swept home Abedi's cross in the 64th minute and scored his second with a far-post header from six metres four minutes later.

His third came when he converted a penalty in the 77th minute.

Romario is expected to retire when he reaches the 1,000-goal mark, although the total includes goals scored when he was a junior player and in friendly matches.

In the Paulista (Sao Paulo state) championship, leaders Santos scored in the third minute of stoppage-time to draw 1-1 at home to second-placed Sao Paulo and stay top.

Teenage fullback Carlinhos cut inside and scored with a low shot from the edge of the penalty area to salvage a point for Vanderlei Luxemburgo's team, who had a goal controversially disallowed for offside in the 70th minute.

Ilsinho, given his first call-up by Brazil last week, opened the scoring for the visitors, who remained unbeaten this year and stayed one point behind Santos.

Chilean midfielder Jorge Valdivia inspired Palmeiras to a 4-1 win over Juventus.

With the score at 1-1, Valdivia won two penalties in four minutes, both converted by Edmundo, and added the fourth himself. Osmar had headed Palmeiras in front before Nil equalised early in the second half.

Corinthians beat Bragantino 2-1 away, their first win in five outings in the competition. Amoroso gave Corinthians a 39th- minute lead from a free kick but Bragantino levelled in first-half stoppage-time with a penalty won and converted by Alex Afonso.

Marcos Vinicius, who gave away the penalty, atoned by scoring the winner in the 86th minute.

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