RIO DE JANEIRO, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- Bragantino scored three first-half goals en route to a 4-2 home win over Cruzeiro in Brazil's Serie A on Monday.
Lucas Barbosa opened the scoring with a 13th-minute header and Kaio Jorge gifted the hosts a second goal by inadvertently turning the ball into his own net seven minutes later.
Eric Ramires made it 3-0 with a cool finish on the counterattack before Ze Lucas pulled a goal back with a close-range tap-in following Kaio's pass.
The visitors were given a glimmer of hope when Matheus Henrique's first-time effort beat goalkeeper Tiago Volpi at his near post.
However, Jose Herrera put the result beyond doubt as his deflected shot from the edge of the box flew into the far corner, leaving goalkeeper Otavio stranded.
The result leaves Bragantino ninth in the 20-team Serie A standings with 40 points, eight behind sixth-placed Cruzeiro with eight matchdays remaining in the season.
Elsewhere in Brazil's top flight on Monday, Athletico Paranaense won 4-1 at Chapecoense and Botafogo earned a 1-1 draw at Coritiba. ■
