Jose manuel lopez

Jose Manuel Lopez: Argentine forward Jose Manuel Lopez scored a first-half winner as reigning champions Palmeiras clinched a 1-0 win at Vasco da Gama in Brazil's Serie A championship.

Lopez gave his side the lead in the 26th minute when he intercepted an errant backward pass from Rayan and dribbled into the 18-yard box before calmly slotting his shot into the near corner, reports Xinhua.

The result leaves Palmeiras second in the 20-team standings with 53 points from 27 games, three points behind leaders Botafogo. Vasco are 10th, 18 points further back.