RIO DE JANEIRO, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- Junior Santos scored one goal and set up another as leaders Botafogo put their Brazilian Serie A title hopes back on track with a 2-0 away win over Rio de Janeiro rivals Fluminense on Sunday.
Santos gave his side the lead in the 20th minute when he ran on to Danilo Pinheiro's through ball and rounded goalkeeper Fabio Maciel before slotting the ball into an unguarded net.
Tiquinho Soares doubled the advantage two minutes later by combining with Santos before deftly lifting a shot over the onrushing Maciel.
Fluminense controlled more than two thirds of possession and completed twice as many passes as their opponents, but lacked incisiveness in the final third.
The result at the Maracana stadium ended a four-match winless run in Brazil's top flight for Botafogo. The Glorioso now have 55 points from 26 games and are nine points clear of second-placed Bragantino.
Fluminense are seventh in the 20-team standings, 14 points off the pace.
Elsewhere in Brazil's Serie A on Sunday, Internacional beat Gremio 3-2 in their Porto Alegre derby, Santos won 2-1 at Palmeiras, Bragantino drew 1-1 at Athletico Paranaense, Coritiba prevailed 2-1 at Atletico Mineiro and Fortaleza edged to a 3-2 home win over America Mineiro. ■
