With their fourth consecutive victory in this year's Brasileiro Championship, Sao Paulo found themselves within the top four teams of the tournament.
In front of their home crowd in Morumbi stadium, Sao Paulo defeated Vasco 4-0 to accumulate 30 points and stand five points behind leaders Gremio, who were followed by Cruzeiro and Palmeiras.
The first half was dominated by Sao Paulo's Andre Lima who scored both of his goals in the first half.
The first came in the 21st minute. Richarlyson crossed the ball into the middle of the field when Lima one-timed the ball into the back of the Vasco net.
His second goal came 19 minutes later. In the 40th minute, Jorge Wagner crossed the ball and found Lima, who outjumped the defense and headed it past Vasco's goalkeeper Tiago.
The second half was a show by Rogerio Ceni, the Sao Paulo goalkeeper, who scored two goals of his own.
Ceni's first goal came in the 70th minute when he fired home a dead ball. It was his third attempt and also his first time scoring on a dead ball foul since October of last year.
His second goal came in the 88th minute from a penalty kick. Aloisio was taken down in the penalty box and the team captain came in to take charge. It was Ceni's 82nd goal of his career.
With the loss, Vasco had only 19 points and is in danger of relegation. Forward Leandro Amaral said "everything is missing within the team: attitude, will, and execution. Playing like this away from home is a shame. It would have been better if the team didn't even show up for today's game."
(Xinhua News Agency August 4, 2008)