Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (My Sportsbook) - Santos claimed its second Brasileirao championship in three years on Sunday. A 2-1 win over Vasco de Gama on the final day of the season allowed Santos to secure the title. Playing in Sao Jose do Rio Preto, Santos took a 2-0 lead in the first half after Ricardinho and Elano scored. Ricardinho put the home side in control just four minutes into the match when he scored on a free kick. Elano's header just inside the 30-minute mark later doubled Santos' advantage. Santos, Pele's former team, finished as the runner-up to Cruzeiro last season. This year, however, Cruzeiro struggled and finished in the bottom half of the league table. Santos ended with 89 points from its 46 matches. They also scored a league- best 103 goals and a plus-45 goal differential. Atletico Paranaense finished in second place, three points behind Santos. Atletico came into the final day of the season one point back of the leaders and hoping for a slip up. Atletico, however, did not get its wish and ended in a 1-1 tie with Botafogo in its match on Sunday. Sao Paulo and Palmeiras rounded out the top four. The first four clubs in the final standings earned a spot in next year's Copa Libertadores. |
