RIO DE JANEIRO, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- Rony Barbosa scored twice as Palmeiras celebrated their 11th Brazilian Serie A title by cruising to a 4-0 home victory over Fortaleza on Wednesday.
Playmaker Dudu and teenage forward Endrick Felipe were also on the scoresheet as the Sao Paulo outfit clinched Brazilian football's top domestic prize with three match days to spare.
"It's a special night. We are deserving champions because of our quality, capacity and our mentality," Palmeiras manager Abel Ferreira told reporters after the match.
"I didn't come here for a vacation. I came here to work, to compete against the best and try to beat them. That's what we did. I have a feeling of gratitude and great pride to be the manager of this club," the 43-year-old Portuguese added.
Palmeiras had already sealed the title before kickoff after second-placed Internacional fell to a 1-0 defeat at America Mineiro earlier on Wednesday.
The triumph extends Palmeiras' impressive run under Ferreira, who took charge of the club amid a poor sequence of results in November 2020.
Since then, the Sao Paulo outfit have won two Copa Libertadores, a Recopa Sudamericana, a Copa do Brasil and the Serie A title.
"I'm grateful to the players and proud of what they've done," Ferreira said. "Our self-esteem is so great that we are okay with the fact that some people like us and some people don't. But those who don't have to suck it up. It's undeniable what these players have done."
In other Brazilian Serie A fixtures on Wednesday, Corinthians won 2-1 at Flamengo, Santos prevailed 3-2 at Atletico Goianiense, Bragantino secured a 2-1 away win over Avai, Coritiba overcame Juventude 1-0 and Athletico Paranaense won 3-2 at home to Goias. ■
