Substitute midfielder Leo Lima converted a penalty kick in the 86th minute and Santos beat rival Palmeiras 1-0 on Sunday to extend its lead in the Sao Paulo state championship.
In Rio de Janeiro, Fluminense came back from a two-goal deficit to earn a 2-2 draw against Vasco at Maracana stadium.
Santos' victory at Vila Belmiro stadium -- the team's sixth consecutive win in the regional tournament -- was enough to put the club atop the 20-team standings with 31 points from 13 matches. Defending champion Sao Paulo and Palmeiras trail with 26 points each.
Lima netted the winner, blasting a right-footer into the left-upper corner of the net.
Palmeiras goalkeeper Sergio, replacing injured World Cup veteran Marcos, prompted the penalty by fouling midfielder Wendell inside the area while trying to clear a cross.
Santos, seeking its first regional title in 22 years, is unbeaten in eight matches. Led by former Real Madrid coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo, the two-time national champion hasn't lost since a 2-1 result against Portuguesa Santista on Feb. 5.
Palmeiras, which has played one less match than Santos, had won four straight. The loss was the team's second in 16 matches this season. The other was against rival Sao Paulo last month.
Sunday's match marked the 150th appearance of World Cup veteran Edmundo with Palmeiras, the team he helped win the 1993 and 1994 national championships.
Sao Paulo fell 2-0 to Sao Bento in Sorocaba, losing for the first time in 11 matches. The defending world champion hadn't lost since a 1-0 result against Juventus on Jan. 25, the team's opener in the state championship.
Sao Paulo Uruguayan defender Diego Lugano was ejected in the second half after receiving a yellow card and then harshly complaining with the referee.
Also Sunday, fourth-place Corinthians drew Marilia 1-1 after allowing a last-minute equalizer at Pacaembu stadium in Sao Paulo.
Former Lyon striker Nilmar, the tournament's leading scorer with 16 goals, scored for Corinthians, while defender Bruno netted for Marilia with a booming shot from outside the area 3 minutes into second-half injury time.
Corinthians played without standout striker Carlos Tevez, who rested after touring with the Argentine national team last week. Coach Antonio Lopes also rested defender Gustavo Nery and midfielder Ricardinho, who were with the Brazilian national squad.
In the Rio Cup, defender Jean scored two second-half goals and Fluminense drew Vasco 2-2 at Maracana stadium. Midfielder Ygor and defender Claudemir scored a goal each for Vasco, which kept alive a six-match unbeaten streak.
Five-time national champion Flamengo was held to a 2-2 draw against America at Giulite Coutinho stadium in Rio. Flamengo's Luizao, a member of Brazil's 2002 World Cup squad, scored his sixth goal in five matches.
It was the first game with Flamengo for coach Waldemar Lemos, who was hired on Friday after Valdir Espinosa was fired following a dismal start this season.
Botafogo, which has already assured a spot in the Rio championship final by winning the Guanabara Cup, or the tournament's first stage, drew Americano 2-2 in Campos in a match twice interrupted by power outages. Americano is atop Group C with seven points, two more than Flamengo.
Madureira, which beat Nova Iguacu 3-1 in Rio, leads Group C with nine points, two more than Friburguense and America.
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