Palmeiras sack coach Menezes after third straight loss

Former Brazil boss Manos Menezes was sacked as head coach of Palmeiras on Sunday after their 3-1 home defeat to newly crowned Brazilian Serie A champions Flamengo.

Giorgian de Arrascaeta and Gabriel Barbosa scored first-half goals as Flamengo, who secured the title with three rounds left last weekend, registered their 27th win of the campaign.

Palmeiras fell one spot in the table to third, 19 points behind Flamengo. It marked the Sao Paulo outfit's third straight defeat and extended their winless run in Brazil's top flight to five matches.

"We are announcing the end of a cycle and we thank Mano for his hard work," Palmeiras president Mauricio Galiotte told reporters.

Palmeiras U-20 manager Wesley Carvalho is expected to replace Menezes on an interim basis for the final two matches of the season.

Menezes, who was Brazil's national team manager from 2010 to 2012, steered Palmeiras to 11 wins, five draws and four defeats after replacing Luiz Felipe Scolari in September.

In other fixtures on Saturday, Gremio routed Sao Paulo 3-0 in Porto Alegre, Santo prevailed 2-0 at home to Chapecoense, Atletico Mineiro beat Corinthians 2-1 in Belo Horizonte, Bahia won 2-1 at CSA, Fortaleza secured a 2-1 victory at Goias, Fluminense drew 1-1 at Avai and Ceara were held 1-1 at home to Athletico Paranaense.