Freitas brace fires Palmeiras past Gremio

RIO DE JANEIRO, April 2 (Xinhua) -- Marlon Freitas scored twice as leader Palmeiras secured a 2-1 home win over Gremio in Brazil's Serie A on Thursday.

The hosts opened the scoring on the stroke of halftime when Freitas met Andreas Pereira's cross from a set piece with a bullet header that beat goalkeeper Weverton at his near post.

Carlos Vinicius reduced the deficit in the 54th minute by controlling Gustavo Martins' through ball and rifling a shot into the top-left corner.

Freitas restored his side's lead in the 72nd minute, intercepting an errant clearance and sending a low 18-yard drive past Weverton.

The result leaves Palmeiras three points clear of second-placed Fluminense while Gremio is 10th in the 20-team standings, 11 points further back.

In other Brazilian top-flight fixtures on Thursday, Bragantino won 3-0 at home to Flamengo, Atletico Mineiro romped to a 4-0 away win over Chapecoense and Santos prevailed 2-0 at home to Remo. Enditem