Rio de Janeiro, Nov 3 (IANS): Sao Paulo kept their title hopes alive with a 2-1 victory against Criciuma in Brazil's Serie A football championship.

Criciuma's Souza cancelled out Edson Silva's opener at the Heriberto Hulse stadium Sunday before Alan Kardec headed in the winner seven minutes from time, reports Xinhua.

Sao Paulo remain second in the standings, five points behind Cruzeiro with six matches remaining.

Meanwhile, Flamengo rose to 10th with a 3-0 victory over Chapecoense at Rio de Janeiro's Maracana stadium.

Midfielder Nixon struck twice while Anderson Pico was also on target for the hosts.

In Belo Horizonte, first-half goals from Marquinhos and Egidio gave Cruzeiro a 2-1 victory over Botafogo. Leo gifted the Rio outfit a consolation goal by turning the ball into his own net in second-half injury time.

In other matches Sunday, Santos lost 1-2 at home to Internacional, Sport defeated Goias 1-0, Atletico Paranense beat Atletico Mineiro 1-0 and Palmeiras won 1-0 at Bahia.