Sao Paulo snapped a five-game winless streak on Saturday, beating visiting Ceara 2-1 in the 12th round of the Brazilian Championship.

The win was expected to motivate the team for their upcoming return leg in the semifinals of the 2010 Libertadores Cup against Internacional.

Sao Paulo scored the goals in two minutes. In the 66th minute, Hernanes sent a corner kick that found a leaping Fernandao, heading the ball past Ceara's goalie Diego. In the next minute, Sao Paulo drove down the field in a fast break, culminating debutante Ricardo Oliveira's first goal with the team.

Ceara responded by scoring their only goal in the 84th minute. Erick Flores dribbled through the Sao Paulo defense and proceeded to cleverly slide the ball past star keeper Rogerio Ceni.

The win provisionally takes Sao Paulo to ninth place with 15 points, depending upon the results of Sunday's matches.

More importantly, the team won their first game since July 15, heading into their semifinals in the Libertadores Cup against Internacional on August 5 at Sao Paulo's Morumbi stadium.

Despite the loss, Ceara remains in third place with 20 points.