Adriano scores twice as Sao Paulo beats Bragantino

SAO PAULO, Brazil (AP) -- Adriano scored two first-half goals to help Sao Paulo defeat Bragantino 2-0 Sunday and move closer to a spot in the semifinals of the Sao Paulo state championship.

Palmeiras and Guaratingueta also won their matches and guaranteed their place in the next stage, while Corinthians beat Marilia to remain in contention.

In Rio de Janeiro, Flamengo, Fluminense, Botafogo and Vasco reached the semifinal phase with one round still to play in the group stage.

Adriano, playing on a loan from Inter Milan, opened the scoring in Braganca Paulista in a breakaway in the ninth minute, dribbling past Bragantino goalkeeper Gilvan inside the area before finding the open net.

The World Cup veteran added his second goal after a corner kick in the 21st, tapping in from close range after Bragantino defenders failed to clear the right-flank cross.

The goals were Adriano's seventh and eighth in the Sao Paulo state championship.

The victory moved Sao Paulo to third in the 20-team standings with one round to go in the first stage. It needs a victory next week at home against minnow Juventus to clinch a spot among the four clubs in the semifinals.

Fours teams remain with chances to earn one of the two spots still available - Sao Paulo, Ponte Preta, Corinthians and Barueri.

Guaratingueta clinched its berth by beating Sertaozinho 1-0, a result that kept the club atop the standings with 37 points. Palmeiras beat Sao Caetano 3-1 on Saturday and also reached 37 points to secure its berth. Sao Paulo has 35 points, one more than Ponte Preta, two more than Corinthians and three more than Barueri.

Corinthians, the most successful club in the Sao Paulo state championship, kept its chances alive by beating Marilia 3-1 with two late goals by Andre Santos.

The defender scored his first goal with a booming left-footer from inside the penalty box in the 80th, and added his second with another powerful shot from inside the area in the 90th.

"We kept fighting and it paid off,'' Andre Santos said. "We'll go after this spot in the semifinals.''

Argentine striker German Herrera opened the scoring for Corinthians at Morumbi stadium with a header in the 12th, but defender Julio Cesar equalized for Marilia with a free kick from the top of the area in the 60th.

Corinthians, which was relegated to the Brazilian league's second division last year, played a man down since the 54th after midfielder Diogo Rincon was ejected for a hard foul. Marilia defender Gum was sent off in the 63rd after receiving his second yellow card.

On Saturday, Palmeiras became the first club to secure a spot in the semifinals with the victory over Sao Caetano at Palestra Italia stadium in Sao Paulo. Chilean midfielder Jorge Valdivia scored one of the goals for the traditional club, which has won eight consecutive matches and is unbeaten in 12 games.

Palmeiras, seeking its first significant title since 2000, hadn't reached the decisive stage of the state competition in four years.

Ponte Preta stayed among the top four by beating visiting Noroeste 3-2 in Campinas.

Also Saturday, defending champion Santos was held to a 1-1 draw at last-place Rio Claro, dropping out of contention for a spot in the semifinals. The result also all but secured Rio Claro's relegation to the second division.

In the Rio Cup, Botafogo defeated Fluminense 3-1 at Maracana stadium to win its seventh in a row. Both clubs had already secured their berths in the semifinals.

Vasco fell 2-1 to Volta Redonda at home, but it also already had clinched a semifinal berth.

On Saturday, defending state champion Flamengo secured its berth despite a disappointing 0-0 draw against Madureira at Maracana.

Flamengo, the Guanabara Cup winner, will play the Rio Cup champion for the Rio de Janeiro state championship title. It will win automatically retain the state title if it wins the Rio Cup.

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