Sao Paulo edge closer to Libertadores berth

SAO PAULO - Sao Paulo ended a four-game winless run with a 1-0 home win over Vasco da Gama in Brazil's Serie A championship on Thursday.

Teenage forward Antony dos Santos struck with a long-range effort in the sixth minute at Morumbi stadium as Sao Paulo secured their 15th win of the season.

Fernando Diniz's team, who are sixth in the 20-team standings, are now just one victory away from securing a place in the group stage of next year's Copa Libertadores. Vasco dropped to 12th with 11 wins, 11 draws and 13 losses.

Meanwhile, Fortaleza won 2-1 at home to Santos, a result that guarantees the club's top-flight survival. Rogerio Ceni's men are 10th in the standings, 10 points clear of the drop zone with three rounds remaining.

Fluminense continued their late-season revival with a 1-0 home victory over defending champions Palmeiras. It was the Rio de Janeiro side's second consecutive win and left them five points above the relegation places.

In Thursday's only other Brazilian Serie A fixture, 18th-placed CSA won 1-0 at Cruzeiro, who remained 17th.