SAO PAULO (AP) - Veteran left back Roberto Carlos scored from a corner Sunday to help Corinthians begin the Brazilian season with a 2-0 win over Portuguesa in the Sao Paulo state championship.
The former Brazil star's left-footed kick found the net in the 20th minute at Pacaembu stadium, striking the ball with the outside of his foot and bouncing once before going in near the far post as goalkeeper Weverton waited for a cross.
"I saw that the goalkeeper was still talking to his defenders, so I took the shot quickly and it worked," said the 37-year-old Roberto Carlos, who was a starter for Brazil when it won the 2002 World Cup. Striker Ronaldo, who also was on that World Cup-winning team, is still far from his best form and was substituted in the 75th after a lackluster performance.
Corinthians' first goal was scored by midfielder Paulinho with a shot from the top of the area in the 12th.
The Sao Paulo state championship is one of the most traditional sporting events in Brazil, along with the Rio de Janeiro tournament, which will begin on Wednesday with Ronaldinho as its biggest star after returning to Brazil to play for Flamengo.
The two-time FIFA player of the year is not expected to make his debut until February, however, as he had been playing sparingly with AC Milan and spent several weeks in Brazil negotiating his future.
Ronaldinho was on the bench when Flamengo defeated America Mineiro 2-1 in a friendly on Sunday in the southern city of Londrina.
Newly signed Argentine midfielder Dario Bottinelli scored for Flamengo, Brazil's most popular club and a six-time national champion.
The Brazilian football season does not follow the European calendar and starts in the beginning of the year. Regional championships in the 26 states take place in the first few months, with the Brazilian league starting in May and running through December.
Also in the Sao Paulo tournament on Sunday, goalkeeper Rogerio Ceni scored his 96th career goal by converting a fifth-minute penalty in Sao Paulo's 2-0 victory at Mogi Mirim.
Ceni is already the most prolific goalkeepers in world football and is on pace to break the 100-goal mark this season. It was the 43rd penalty goal for the 37-year-old Ceni, who is also a free kick specialist.
Former Wolfsburg midfielder Marcelinho Paraiba came off the bench to score Sao Paulo's second goal with a header in the 87th.
Mogi Mirim's president is former Brazil and Barcelona star Rivaldo, who is also a player for the team from Sao Paulo state.
The 38-year-old midfielder didn't play on Sunday because of a delay in adding his name to the team's official squad.
On Saturday, Luiz Felipe Scolari's Palmeiras was held to a disappointing 0-0 home draw with Botafogo at Pacaembu, while defending champion Santos beat newcomer Linense 4-1 in Lins. Santos is still without stars Neymar, Paulo Henrique Ganso and recently signed Brazil midfielder Elano. Neymar is with Brazil's under-20 squad while Ganso is recovering after undergoing knee surgery last season.
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