Campeonato Paulista wrap: Penapolense jump into third

Penapolense were the only top-eight Campeonato Paulista team to record a win on Wednesday, as they went third on the table.

Edison So’s men came close to dropping two points however, with goalkeeper Marcelo saving a penalty late in their 2-1 win over Uniao Barbarense at the Estadio Municipal Tenente Carrico.

Magrao opened the scoring, firing the hosts ahead on eight minutes, only for Barbarense to equalise seven minutes after the interval via Itaqui.

Silvinho’s 64th-minute effort would prove to be the winner, but Barbarense substitute Junior Goiano blew a huge chance from the spot to earn a valuable point for the visitors.

Penapolense sit on 12 points, closing the gap on joint league leaders Santos and Ponte Preta on 14 points.

Ponte Preta wasted a chance to go outright top, as they drew 0-0 away to Sao Paulo at the Estadio Cicero Pompeu de Toledo.

It should come as little surprise that Guto Ferreira’s side kept a clean sheet on the road, as they have conceded just one goal in six matches this season.

Fourth-placed Linense, who are level with Penapolense on points, were held to a home 2-2 draw by leaders Santos.

Botafogo and Corinthians stayed level on points on the table in sixth and fifth spot respectively, after they also played out a scoreless stalemate at Estadio Santa Cruz.

Corinthians remained above their nearest rivals on goal difference, with the teams on 11 points apiece.

Guarani earned their first win of the campaign, with a 3-1 home victory over Sao Caetano – a result that saw the winners escape the drop zone, while the losers took their spot in it.

The visitors had led on seven minutes via a Vandinho goal, but Guarani equalised 10 minutes later courtesy of Tiago Pagnussat.

Two dismissals in the space of six second-half minutes saw Sao Caetano down to nine men for the final half-hour.

And it was too much of a task for them to hold on for a point, as a Siloe penalty and a Thiago Gentil goal helped Branco’s men escape the bottom four for the time being.

XV de Piracicaba went ninth courtesy of a 3-0 win at struggling Sao Bernardo FC.

Leo Mineiro, Vinicius Bovi and Marcio Diogo were all on target for the visitors at the Estadio Primeiro de Maio.

Ituano are level with XV after they snatched a 1-0 win at the death away to Mogi Mirim – their second successive victory.

Mirassol broke their duck for the season, claiming a 2-1 win away at Bragantino to climb to 15th in the table.

Bottom-placed Oeste bravely earned a point away to Paulista, as the cellar-dwellers earned a point in a 0-0 draw despite finishing with nine men.