RIO DE JANEIRO, Nov. 27 (Xinhua) -- Bruno Henrique netted a second-half hat-trick as newly crowned Brazilian Serie A champions Flamengo romped to a 4-1 home win over Ceara on Wednesday.
Thiago Galhardo gave the visitors the lead with a 27th-minute strike at the Maracana before Henrique netted three times within 19 minutes.
Ceara were reduced to 10 men with six minutes remaining when Samuel Xavier was shown a straight red card for a rash challenge on Everton Ribeiro.
Vitinho completed the rout with a low finish after being set up by Ribeiro in stoppage time.
Brazil international forward Henrique has now netted 21 goals in 31 league matches this season just one goal less than the competition's leading scorer, his teammate Gabriel Barbosa.
Flamengo extended their lead over second-placed Santos to 16 points and the Rio de Janeiro giants have now gone 27 matches without being beaten across all competitions.
Last weekend, the Rubo-Negro became the first team since Pele's Santos in 1963 to win the Brazilian Serie A and Copa Libertadores titles in the same year.
Earlier on Wednesday, Botafogo eased their relegation fears with a 1-0 win at Chapecoense - a result that lifted the Rio de Janeiro outfit six points clear of the relegation zone.
Chapecoense remained 19th with just 28 points and, with just three rounds remaining, they are poised to be relegated to Brazilian football's second tier.
In other matches on Wednesday, Goias won 2-1 at Internacional, Atletico Mineiro held Bahia to a 1-1 draw in Salvador, Corinthians beat Avia 3-0 and Athletico Paranaense beat Gremio 2-0 at home.
