Palmeiras upset Botafogo 4-1

Sao Paulo City:

Midfielder Marcinho netted three goals in the final 20 minutes to help Palmeiras defeat Botafogo 4-1 and move closer to the top of the standings in the Brazilian championship on Sunday night. Emerson put Botafogo ahead with a header in the 11th minute, and it held the lead until playmaker Pedrinho equalised with a free kick in the 70th. Marcinho, coveted by several traditional clubs before signing with Palmeiras in May, scored his hat trick in a 13-minute span at Palmeiras' Palestra Italia stadium. He converted penalty kicks in the 73rd and 81st minutes and then scored from inside the area in the 86th. The visitors were reduced to 10-men just before Marcinho's second goal when central defender Tulio received a second yellow card for his tackle on Pedrinho inside the penalty area. Marchinho is the tournament's leading scorer with eight goals. Palmeiras, which had lost five of its first nine matches, jumped to 13th in the 22-team standings with 13 points. Botafogo - which debuted coach Pericles Chamusca - is fourth, five points behind Ponte Preta. It had led the competition before its current three-match losing streak. (AP)