Fluminense keeps Sao Paulo from winning 3rd title

SAO PAULO, Brazil (AP) -- Fluminense prevented Sao Paulo from winning its third straight Brazilian league title on Sunday, drawing 1-1 with the defending champions and keeping Gremio alive with one match to go.

Gremio routed Ipatinga 4-1 to pull within three points of Sao Paulo ahead of next week's final round. Sao Paulo, which has 72 points from 37 matches, will plat at Goias, while Gremio hosts Atletico Mineiro.

Sao Paulo could have clinched its record sixth title with a win over Fluminense in front of the nearly 70,000 fans that packed Morumbi stadium, but it failed to extend its six-match winning streak.

Substitute striker Tarta put Fluminense ahead with a left-footer from the top of the area in the 49th, and forward Borges equalized with a right-footer from near the penalty box in the 57th.

Despite the setback, Sao Paulo needs only a draw against Goias next week to secure the title.

The three-time club world champions trailed Gremio by 11 points just after the midway point of the competition, but steadily moved up the table to reach the last match in good position to become the nation's most successful club. Flamengo is the only other club with five national titles.

Gremio allowed an early goal against last-place Ipatinga at Ipatingao stadium, but cruised to victory after rallying with three goals in 30 minutes in the first half - including two from striker Marcel.

Ipatinga and Portuguesa - which drew Sport 2-2 in Sao Paulo - were relegated to the second division, but four-time national champion Vasco beat Coritiba 2-0 in Curitiba to remain with a chance of escaping relegation.

Palmeiras moved into good position to grab one of the four spots available for the Copa Libertadores next year with a 0-0 draw against Vitoria at Barradao stadium in Salvador, reaching third place with 65 points.

Fourth-place Cruzeiro is one point behind after losing 1-0 to Internacional's second stringers at Beira-Rio stadium in Porto Alegre. Internacional rested its regular starters ahead of the Copa Sudamericana final against Argentina's Estudiantes on Wednesday. Cruzeiro missed a second-half penalty kick.

Flamengo dropped to fifth place after a disappointing 3-3 draw against Goias at a packed Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro. The five-time national champions were winning 3-0 by the 35th, but gave up two goals in the first half to allow Goias back in the game.

In addition to Vasco, which is 18th in the 20-team standings, four other teams remain in danger of being relegated - two-time champion Santos, Nautico, Atletico Paranaense and Figueirense.

Santos was held to a 0-0 draw by Atletico Mineiro at Mineirao stadium in Belo Horizonte, Nautico rallied to beat Atletico Paranaense 2-1 in Recife and Figueirense defeated Botafogo 3-1 at Engenhao stadium in Rio.

Four-time national champion Corinthians, Avai, Santo Andre and Barueri were promoted to the top division.

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