Campeonato Paulista: Palmeiras demolish Ituano

Palmeiras moved fourth in Brazil’s Campeonato Paulista after they crushed Ituano 4-1 away from home on Thursday.

Striker Kleber netted a brace in the victory, opening the scoring in the 27th minute, before Welton equalised for the home side on the stroke of half time at the Estadio Barao de Serra Negra.

But it was all Palmeiras after the break, with Dinei putting the visitors ahead eight minutes after the restart before Kleber scored his second on the hour mark.

Tinga added an injury time goal to top off an emphatic victory.

Noroeste twice pegged back Botafogo on the road to force a 2-2 draw at the Estadio Santa Cruz.

Rodrigo Pontes got Botafogo on board in the 11th minute to give the hosts the lead.

But Ricardinho equalised for Noroeste in the 56th minute, before Moacir re-installed Botafogo’s lead 12 minutes later.

Not to be denied, Ze Carlos produced the point-snatching goal for Noroeste in the 74th minute to leave both sides on two points after two games.

Paulista’s trip to Gremio Prudente proved a fruitful one, as they walked away with all three points in a 2-1 victory at the Estadio Municipal Eduardo Jose Farah.

Hernane got the visitors off the ideal start with a 10th minute goal, but Rai restored parity seven minutes later to level things up at the break.

Rone Dias scored the winner for Paulista on 59 minutes, and the win leaves them in third place on the table, one of four unbeaten teams in the competition after two matches.