Coritiba have moved into first place after coming out on top of a goal-packed match against Ponte Preta on Wednesday.
William gave the visitors an early lead inside five minutes but Coritiba managed to turn things around before half time with goals from Lincoln and Robinho.
Ponte Preta hit back after the restart with two goals in three minutes as Andres Bakara stole into the box to finish a good attacking move and William stabbed home from close range after Diego Sacoman headed down from a corner.
However, Alex scored a superb curled free-kick in the 56th minute, before Lincoln and Robinho netted their second goals of the game to earn Coritiba three points.
The latter timed his run into to the box to perfection, caught a cross from Lincoln on the volley and fired home in one swift movement two minutes from full-time.
Cruzeiro lost pole position as they slipped to defeat at Fluminense, with Fred’s 78th-minute goal separating the sides.
The Brazil international saw a penalty palmed away by Fabio on the stroke of half-time but made up for his mistake in the 77th minute as he headed home from Kenedy’s miscued bicycle kick.
The win ended a five-game losing run for the reigning champions and handed new coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo a debut victory, following the sacking of Abel Braga on Monday.
“I celebrated with a sense of relief because of that missed penalty,” Fred said after the match. “The team stood up well and it was a deserved victory.”
