RIO DE JANEIRO, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Former Brazil international striker Diego Souza struck his fourth goal in five matches as Sao Paulo moved to the top of the Brazilian Serie a standings with a 3-2 victory over Botafogo on Wednesday.
Souza netted with a 31st-minute header at Sao Paulo's Morumbi stadium after his teammate Nene cancelled out Leonardo Valencia's opener.
Forward Everton made it 3-1 before Rodrigo Pimpao pulled a goal back for the visitors seven minutes from time.
Sao Paulo now have 16 points from eight matches, two points more than second-placed Flamengo, who host Bahia on Thursday. Botafogo, meanwhile, are 13th in the 20-team standings with nine points.
In Belo Horizonte, a second-half Rafael Sobis goal handed Cruzeiro a 1-0 win over Palmeiras. The result lifted Cruzeiro to sixth and left nine-time champions Palmeiras languishing in 10th place.
In Thursday's other matches, Sport Recife won 3-2 at home to Atletico Mineiro, Vasco da Gama beat Parana 1-0 in Rio, Internacional won 2-1 at Vitoria, hosts Chapecoense overcame Ceara 2-0 and Fluminense held Gremio to a goalless draw in Porto Alegre.
