体坛英语新闻：Pato sinks Bahia, Seedorf takes Botafogo top

SALVADOR, July 7 (Xinhua) -- Alexandre Pato scored two first-half goals to give Corinthians a 2-0 victory over Bahia in Brazil's Serie A championship here on Sunday.

And in Rio, Pato's former AC Milan teammate Clarence Seedorf struck a late winner as Botafogo beat reigning champions Fluminense 1-0.

The result lifted Botafogo to the top of the Brasileirao standings with 13 points from six matches while Corinthians rose to seventh with nine points.

Pato gave his side the lead at the Arena Fonte Nova by bundling in from close range after his first attempt rebounded off the post.

He then made it 2-0 on the stroke of halftime, pouncing on a defensive error with a first-time volley that flew into the top corner.

After the match the 23-year-old striker expressed relief at ending his five-game goalless sequence.

"I have been working hard and it just came down to having a bit of luck this time," Pato said. "Fortunately today I managed to score twice and we won the match, which was the most important thing."

In Porto Alegre, Uruguay forward Diego Forlan scored in Internacional's 5-3 victory over Vasco da Gama, Santos defeated Sao Paulo 2-0, Goias overcame Vitoria 1-0 and Atletico Mineiro beat Criciuma 3-2.