Jo, Kalou on target as Corinthians earn late draw with Botafogo

RIO DE JANEIRO -- Former Manchester City striker Jo scored in second-half stoppage time as Corinthians earned a 2-2 draw with Botafogo in Brazil's Serie A championship on Saturday.

Veteran full-back Fagner gave the hosts the lead by converting a 12th-minute penalty after he was brought down in the area by Marcelo Benevenuto.

Bruno Nazario equalized shortly after with a dipping free-kick that rebounded in off the crossbar after a clumsy attempt to parry the ball clear by goalkeeper Cassio.

Botafogo looked set for a memorable victory when former Chelsea forward Salomon Kalou struck his first goal for the club in the 75th minute.

Playing in his second match for the Rio de Janeiro outfit, the 35-year-old combined with Rhuan Silveira before deftly sliding a shot past Cassio.

However Corinthians salvaged a point in the third minute of injury time when Jo capitalized on poor defending by side-footing a first-time effort past goalkeeper Roberto Fernandez after Leo Natel's cross from the right.

The result left Corinthians ninth in the 20-team standings with nine points from seven matches, a point ahead of 13th-placed Botafogo.

Earlier, Gabriel Barbosa came off the bench to fire defending champions Flamengo to a 2-1 home victory over Fortaleza.

Barbosa rifled in an 87th-minute winner after Fortaleza midfielder Juninho had canceled out Everton Ribeiro's opener at the Maracana stadium.