Coachless Corinthians thumped 5-2 in

RIO DE JANEIRO, Aug 29 (Reuters) - Coachless Corinthians suffered more misery in the Brazilian championship on Wednesday when they were thumped 5-2 by a Atletico Mineiro led by a man they fired earlier this year.

Atletico coach Emerson Leao, who last year saved Corinthians from relegation, said he had no sympathy for his former club, who sacked him in April.

"No, I don't belong to them anymore," former Brazil coach Leao told reporters.

"The only thing that worries me about Corinthians is that they pay me what they owe me."
Leao, who has claimed that Corinthians breached his contract, was replaced at the club by Paulo

Cesar Carpegiani, who himself was fired after a 3-0 home defeat by Cruzeiro at the weekend.

On Wednesday, hapless Jose Augusto was in charge on an interim basis.

Atletico raced to a three-goal halftime lead through Vanderlei, Danilinho and Marquinhos. Vanderlei added a fourth in the 55th minute.

Finazzi and substitute Clodoaldo pulled two back for Corinthians but Eder Luis added a fifth for Atletico in the 71st minute.

Corinthians, champions in 2005 and one of Brazil's most popular sides, dropped to 15th in the 20-team table with 27 points. The bottom four go down.

Leaders Sao Paulo won 1-0 at arch-rivals Palmeiras to stretch the gap at the top, midfielder Jorge Wagner finishing off a superb move, with the defending champions making it 14 wins in 22 games.

Wagner collected Dagoberto's pass on the edge of the area, played a one-two with Aloisio and flicked the ball past Palmeiras goalkeeper Diego Cavaleri before halftime.

Sao Paulo went eight points clear of Cruzeiro, who twice led at Parana but were held 2-2 after the hosts equalised with a controversial penalty.

Wagner and Marcelo Moreno scored breakaway goals for Cruzeiro while striker Josiel replied each time for Parana.

The second came from a penalty awarded for a foul on Everton, whose legs crumpled with the barest of touches from a Cruzeiro defender.

Botafogo stayed one point behind in third place after coming from behind to draw 1-1 with Flamengo.

Flamengo striker Souza had a 76th minute penalty saved by Max and was jeered off the field by his team's fans when he was substituted two minutes later.