Corinthians, who missed a last minute penalty, only allowed Fluminense striker Romario one scoring chance in Rio de Janeiro, but the single opportunity was enough for the 36-year-old to score his 16th goal of the championship.

Santos, whose starting line-up has an average age of 22.8, won with two goals from forward Alberto and one from his 18-year-old striking partner Robinho. Gremio ended with 10 men after Brazil World Cup defender Anderson Polga was sent off.

Despite the win, supporters of Pele's former club continued to display their banners upside down in a protest at the once mighty team's 18-year title drought.

They say the banners will only be turned the right way up again when the team known as 'The Fish' collect a major trophy.

The first half of the Fluminense tie was played at walking pace with pitchside thermometers hitting 45 Celsius in the sun at the Maracana stadium.

The game picked up after the break, with Corinthians -- champions in 1998 and 1999 -- keeping possession for long periods but unable to translate their superiority into real chances.

Fluminense broke the deadlock in the 77th minute when Yan crossed from the right, Magno Alves dummied and the ball ran invitingly into the path of unmarked Romario, who nonchalantly scored from 12 metres.

Typically, it was his only real contribution to the game. Brazil's 1994 World Cup hero -- whose privileges at the club include being allowed to travel alone to away games -- disappeared from the action for long periods and only touched the ball on a handful of occasions.

Striker Guilherme wasted Corinthians' best chance when he hit an 89th minute penalty against the crossbar.

ROBINHO TORMENT

Santos, who have not won a domestic title since 1984, outplayed Gremio with Robinho a constant torment for the visitors. Gremio's frustration boiled over when Anderson Polga was dismissed following a violent tackle on him through the second half, his second bookable offence.

Alberto, a relative veteran in the Santos team at 27, blasted them ahead in the 38th minute with a 25-metre shot and added the second with a close-range effort in the 68th minute.