IN BRIEF (Page 22)

Sao Paulo reach top four

RIO DE JANEIRO: Title holders Sao Paulo beat second-placed Goias 3-1 on Sunday to climb into the top four of the Brazilian championship.

Sao Paulo, who made a poor start to the championship while they were playing the South American Libertadores Cup, have won their past five matches and gone eight without defeat. They have 30 points from 18 matches, five behind leaders Palmeiras, who face third-placed Atletico Mineiro on Wednesday (Beijing time Thursday), and two behind Goias.