By TALES AZZONI
Associated Press Writer
SAO PAULO, Brazil (AP) -- Striker Alex Alves converted a pair of second-half penalty kicks and helped rally Botafogo past Corinthians 3-1 in the second round of the Brazilian championship on Sunday.
Defending champion Santos and Fluminense also won their matches, and are tied with Botafogo with six points each atop the 22-team standings.
Alves scored his first goal after midfielder Tulio was brought down by Corinthians defender Betao inside the area in the 51st minute. His second came in the 87th after Argentine defender Sebastian Dominguez fouled substitute striker Marcelinho.
Striker Gil had put Corinthians ahead at Luso-Brasileiro stadium with a header in the 32nd, and midfielder Ramon scored Botafogo's other goal with a low one-timer from inside the box in the 74th.
Botafogo, the 1995 national champion, hadn't opened the competition with two consecutive victories in 13 years. The last time was in 1992, when it finished runner-up to Flamengo.
The result in Rio de Janeiro ended Corinthians' 11-match unbeaten streak. The three-time national champion hadn't lost since a 3-0 defeat to Cianorte in the second round of the Brazilian Cup on March 9.
The match was played in an empty stadium as punishment for Botafogo, whose fans threw objects onto the field in a match against Corinthians at Caio Martins stadium in last year's tournament.
Argentine international Carlos Tevez, who on Thursday exchanged punches with a teammate during practice, had a discreet performance for Corinthians, which remains winless with only one point from two matches.
At Couto Pereira stadium in Curitiba, striker Robinho scored two-minutes into first-half injury time to lead Santos to a 3-2 come-from-behind win over Coritiba. Substitute striker Fabiano scored Santos' other goals just minutes earlier, with headers in the 42nd and 44th.
Rio de Janeiro state champion Fluminense stayed atop the standings by beating Paysandu 2-1 behind two goals from defender Gabriel at Mangueirao stadium in Belem. Both teams played two men down for the final 20 minutes because of ejections.
Also Sunday, five-time national champion Flamengo picked up its first win by beating Figueirense 1-0 in Florianopolis in the debut of coach Celso Roth. Defender Fabio scored Flamengo's lone goal just three minutes into the match.
Also Sunday, 2003 champion Cruzeiro defeated Internacional 3-2 at Mineirao stadium in Belo Horizonte, while Juventude beat Atletico Paranaense 1-0 in Caxias do Sul.
On Saturday, Uruguayan defender Diego Lugano scored in the 89th minute to help Sao Paulo escape its second consecutive loss. The three-time national champion _ winless in three matches _ drew Parana 1-1 at Morumbi stadium in Sao Paulo.
Striker Luizao missed a 76th-minute penalty kick for Sao Paulo, which will debut recently hired coach Paulo Autuori _ the former Peru national team coach _ next weekend against rival Corinthians.
In other results, Palmeiras beat Brasiliense 2-1 at Palestra Italia stadium in Sao Paulo, while Vasco _ without veteran striker Romario _ was held to a 0-0 draw against Fortaleza in Volta Redonda.
