São Paulo's winning streak ends, Cruzeiro into second

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (Reuters) -- Brazilian championship titleholder and leader Sao Paulo was held to a scoreless draw at Goias on Sunday, ending a run of seven wins in a row.

Goias defender Fabio Bahia headed against the crossbar in the first half but Sao Paulo took control after the break, creating a flurry of chances which it was unable to convert.

Sao Paulo, which has 41 points from 20 games, had its lead cut to six points by Cruzeiro, which beat Fluminense 4-2 with a hat trick by striker Alecsandro to go second.

Alecsandro fired Cruzeiro ahead early in the match before close-range goals from Arouca and Thiago Neves turned the game around for Fluminense.

However, Cruzeiro, which has a game in hand over Sao Paulo, hit back with three goals in the last 15 minutes.

Alecsandro headed it level, then pounced on a defensive blunder to put the Foxes 3-2 ahead before Marcelo Moreno added a fourth with another header.

Striker Leandro Amaral scored twice, the first a penalty, as Vasco da Gama beat America-Natal 2-0 to go third, one point behind Cruzeiro.

The match was marred by crowd trouble outside the ground as around 300 fans, angry at being unable to get tickets for the sellout match, confronted police.

Police brought the situation quickly under control and there were no reports of injuries.

Juventude twice came from behind to hold Corinthians 2-2, one day after Claudio Duarte became the third coach to leave the club this year.

Finazzi gave the visitors a first-minute lead, Wescley equalized in the 12th minute and Gustavo Nery fired Corinthians back in front in the 24th, both with spectacular long-range goals.

Fabio Baiano headed Juventude level in the 59th minute.

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