Sao Paulo midfielder Kaka followed up his midweek hat-trick with another virtuoso display at the weekend, scoring one goal and creating two more in a 3-0 win at Internacional Limeira.

The 20-year-old, a reserve in Brazil's victorious World Cup squad last year, produced the highlight of the Paulista championship match when he slipped the ball through the legs of a defender and placed his shot beyond goalkeeper Oliveira for Sao Paulo's second goal.

Earlier, he had set up their opener for Kleber and he also provided the pass from which Gustavo Nery completed an easy win as Sao Paulo went second in Group Two despite having striker Luis Fabiano sent off after only 32 minutes.

Sao Paulo went down to a shock 2-1 defeat by Paulista in their first match but have scored nine goals without reply since Kaka returned after playing for Brazil's under-23 team in a tournament in Qatar.

Santos, winners of last year's Brazilian championship, lead the same group after an unimpressive 1-0 win at Juventus, where striker Elano scored the only goal.

Palmeiras, another of the tournament's big fish, were jeered off by their own supporters after crashing to a 4-2 home defeat by Barbarense in Group One, while a 2-0 win at Botafogo-Ribeirao Preto put Corinthians top of Group Three.

Yugoslav midfielder Dejan Petkovic scored twice as Vasco da Gama drew 2-2 with Fluminense in the Carioca (Rio de Janeiro state) championship.

The former Red Star Belgrade player -- booed off the field after his performance against Botafogo one week ago -- opened the scoring when he chested the ball down and rifled a looping left-foot volley into the goal from 25 metres.

He then salvaged a draw with a penalty after Fluminense had gone 2-1 ahead with two goals from striker Fabio Bala, who was standing in for injured veteran Romario.

Romario, who celebrated his 37th birthday last week, has still not played this year because of a nagging calf muscle problem.

Flamengo lead the first stage of the competition with a maximum 12 points from four games, their latest victory, 2-1 at home, coming against Cabofriense.

The Paulista and Carioca are the most important of the state championships which form the prelude to the Brazilian season. The Brazilian championship starts at the end of March.