Fred strike saves Fluminense

A last-minute penalty from Fred earned Fluminense a 1-1 draw at 10-man Atletico Paranaense as they kept up their pursuit of the Campeonato leaders.

The visitors looked to be heading for defeat when they trailed to a 63rd-minute goal from Paulo Baier.

But the dismissal of Santos eight minutes later threw Fluminense a lifeline, and they finally took advantage in the dying seconds when Fred scored from the penalty spot.

Fluminense lie five points behind pace-setters Vasco da Gama, but have Flamengo sitting on their shoulder after a late 2-1 win over basement side America MG.

The hosts fell behind to a 30th-minute penalty from Everton Kempes, but substitute Deivid equalised after 61 minutes before Thiago Neves struck the winner two minutes from time.

Figueirense also had a late goal to thank for their 3-2 victory at Santos. The visitors twice took the lead through Julio Cesar (9) and Wellington Silva (26), only for Humberlito Borges (24) and Leo (45) to pull Santos level. And the scores remained locked at 2-2 until Julio Cesar put away a penalty six minutes from time, with the win taking 10th-placed Figueirense above their opponents in the standings.