Campeonato Paulista wrap: Santos, Ponte Preta on the slide

Santos missed a chance to go top of the Campeonato Paulista table with a 2-1 loss at Bragantino on Saturday, while Ponte Preta also fell.

Santos, who came into the trip to Braganza equal on points with Sao Paulo, Corinthians and Palmeiras, failed to leapfrog their fellow title contenders after conceding a late winner to Marcelinho.

The Brazilian striker picked up his first goal of the competition in the 88th minute, ensuring Bragantino provisionally rise to ninth on the table.

Fellow attacker Leo Jaime had put the hosts ahead in the 25th minute, but former Manchester City midfielder Elano corrected the imbalance from the penalty spot six minutes later for Santos.

Elano leads the goal-scorers’ table with 10 strikes in 14 games this season.

Santos drop from second to third for the time being, but could fall as far as fifth by the time this weekend’s round is completed.

Elsewhere, Ponte Preta remain three points away from Santos in fifth after falling 1-0 at lowly Noroeste.

Former Corinthians striker Otacilio nabbed the lone goal in first-half injury time for Noroeste, who provisionally move one point clear of the relegation places.

Mirassol are in a holding pattern in sixth place after their third straight loss, this time a 4-1 thumping at the hands of Portuguesa.

Brazilian striker Jael picked up a brace for Portuguesa, who rise to 10th and within three points of the finals places.

Oeste are just two points clear of Mirassol in seventh after a 2-2 draw at Santo Andre.

Reinaldo de Sol (72) and Fabio Tenorio (78) grabbed late goals for Oeste, who rallied from two goals down to steal a point from the hosts.

Finally, Paulista fall to eighth after their three-game streak was halted with a 2-1 loss at Botafogo.

Assis Mota nabbing a 78th-minute winner for the hosts, who move two points clear of the drop zone after snapping their five-game winless run.