RIO DE JANEIRO, Dec. 2 (Xinhua) -- Colombian midfielder Fredy Guarin struck his third league goal of the season as Vasco da Gama beat Cruzeiro 1-0 in Brazil's Serie A championship on Monday.
Guarin combined with Andrey Ramos before unleashing a low 25-yard shot that left goalkeeper Fabio Lopes with no chance.
It was Vasco's first win in four matches and lifted them to 47 points with two rounds remaining in the season.
Cruzeiro, meanwhile, have lost their past three matches and are mired in the relegation zone - two points clear of safety.
The result at Estadio Sao Januario guaranteed that Vasco's Rio de Janeiro rivals, Fluminense and Botafogo, will remain in the Serie A next year.
Fluminense are 15th and Botafogo 14th, with both teams having accumulated 42 points from 36 matches.
