Prea helps club climb into first in São Paulo tourney

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (AP) -- Striker Jorge Prea tapped in a rebound off the crossbar in injury time and Palmeiras beat Portuguesa 1-0 for first place in the Sao Paulo state soccer championship on Wednesday.

Fluminense trounced Mesquita 4-1 and guaranteed a spot in the semifinals of the Rio Cup, the second half of the Rio de Janeiro state championship.

Former national team goalkeeper Marcos was a standout for Palmeiras, which notched its 10th win in 17 games and climbed to 34 points, three ahead of Ponte Preta and Guaretingueta, which plays Mirassol on Thursday. Corinthians has 30 points, and Sao Paulo, Santos and Barueri 29 each with two rounds left in the regular season.

Santos, rebounding from a sluggish start in the tournament, downed rival Corinthians 2-1. Sao Paulo was idle and could jump past both with a victory over modest Sertaozinho on Thursday.

Ponte Preta managed only a 1-1 draw with last-placed Rio Claro but clung to third place.

Andre Neles scored a hat trick in the first half to lead Barueri to a 3-0 victory over Noroeste and within range of the final four.

Marilia got a pair of goals in the final 12 minutes to beat Ituano 2-0 and edge away from the relegation zone. The final four teams will be relegated to the second division next season.

Rio Preto got a goal from Ricardinho in the 28th minute to upset Juventus 1-0, but the team remains in the relegation zone with 15 points, in 17th place.

Also, Sao Caetano drew Bragantino 0-0, and Paulista drew Guarani 1-1.

In Rio, Cicero, Junior Cesar and Tarta scored for Fluminense, and Mesquita's Vinicius scored an own-goal to widen Flu's lead in Maracana. Leandro narrowed the gap for Mesquita, but the result left unbeaten Fluminense atop Group A with 16 points and a berth in the final four.

Flamengo, the winner of the tournament's first phase and already qualified for the tournament finals, pounded Friburguense 4-1 and virtually guaranteed a spot in the semifinals of Group A.

Striker Marcinho scored a pair of goals for Flamengo, and Leonardo Moura and Renato Augusto completed the scoring. Leo Andrade scored for Friburguense.

In Group B, leaders Botafogo and Vasco da Gama play on Thursday.

In other games, Resende outslugged Boa Vista 5-4, Madureira topped Duque de Caxias 2-1, Americano beat Volta Redonda 3-2 and Cabofriense edged Macae 1-0.

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