(Agencies)
Updated: 2007-11-26 13:45

RIO DE JANEIRO - Striker Kleber Pereira scored a hat-trick in 10 minutes on Sunday as Santos came from two goals down to win 3-2 at Parana and qualify for next year's Libertadores Cup.

Flamengo also made sure of a place in the South American equivalent of the Champions League with a 2-0 win over Atletico Paranaense.

The top four teams in the Brazilian championship, which has already been won by Sao Paulo, qualify for the Libertadores.

Santos coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo said that a colourful halftime team talk had breathed some life into his side.

"In the first half, the team didn't have a soul, we played without guts," the former Brazil and Real Madrid coach told reporters. "I can't tell you what I said at halftime because there was a lot of swearing."

Relegation-threatened Parana went ahead with a Jumar free kick in the 30th minute and another from Paulo Rodrigues in the 70th as they appeared to throw themselves a lifeline.

But Santos hit back in remarkable fashion as Pereira turned in Dejan Petkovic's cross in the 73rd minute, equalised in the 81st and scored the winner two minutes later.

Parana stayed 18th in the 20-team table with 41 points. The bottom four are relegated.

Santos guaranteed a top-four finish with one game to play. Pele's former team are second with 62 points from 37 games.

Flamengo, one point behind in third, beat Paranaense with second-half goals from Renato Augusto and Juan in front of nearly 88,000 fans at the Maracana, the best attendance of the championship.

Palmeiras stayed in the top four despite losing 2-1 at Internacional where Fernando scored both goals for the hosts.