Ceni overhauls Chilavert as most prolific goalkeeper

RIO DE JANEIRO, Aug 21 (Reuters) Sao Paulo goalkeeper Rogerio Ceni entered the record books after scoring twice in a 2-2 draw with Cruzeiro.

Ceni's tally of 64 goals in top-flight football means he has overhauled Paraguay's Jose Luiz Chilavert as the keeper with most goals to his name.

Sao Paulo retained a three-point lead in the Brazilian title race, with Santos crashing to a 2-0 home defeat by Vasco da Gama and Internacional drawing 1-1 with Palmeiras yesterday.

Corinthians scraped a 1-0 win in their relegation battle with Botafogao but a cloud of gloom continued to hang over the club as speculation mounted about the possible departure of Argentine striker Carlos Tevez.

Ceni's extraordinary afternoon began inauspiciously when Sao Paulo defender Alex Silva deflected the ball into his own net.

Cruzeiro extended their lead when Michel scored after Ceni had blocked his first attempt on goal.

A rout seemed on the cards when Wagner won a penalty and stepped up to take the spot-kick but Ceni's leaping save marked the turning-point in Sao Paulo's fortunes.

Ceni narrowed the deficit from a booming free kick, struck three minutes before the interval.

Luisao's tackle on Sao Paulo striker Aloiso resulted in a questionable penalty, which Ceni coolly converted.

''It was nice to get the record but what really makes history is winning titles and that is what has given me the most satisfaction in my years at Sao Paulo,'' Ceni told reporters.

Sao Paulo moved on to 34 points, with both Santos and Parana trailing on 31.

Santos' 21-game unbeaten run at the Vila Belmiro stadium came to an abrupt end against a battling Vasco outfit.

Abedi's low shot squeezed past goalkeeper Fabio Costa to give Vasco a first half lead. Wagner Diniz was upended by Kleber and Morais converted a second-half spot-kick.

Parana moved into second place after clinching a 1-0 home win over Sao Caetano.

LINGERING HANGOVER Internacional showed signs of a lingering hangover after winning the Libertadores Cup last week and their 1-1 draw with Palmeiras was strewn with errors.

In-form striker Rafael Sobis found the net with a low drive but Paulo Baier equalised for Palmeiras after Internacional's Perdigao was dismissed for dissent.

Internacional slipped to fourth place on 30 points.

Corinthians collected a second successive win under new coach Emerson Leao.

Tevez shrugged off injury problems to play a pivotal role in the win and he provided the cross that enabled striker Nadson to score on his debut.

Referee Paulo Bezerra issued 11 yellow cards but struggled to impose himself in an unruly game.

The result was not enough to lift Corinthians out of the relegation zone, and Tevez added to their worries when he told reporters that the game might be his last for the club without revealing any details.

REUTERS PM DS1240