RIO DE JANEIRO - Vasco da Gama rose to the top of the Brazilian Serie A standings on Thursday with a 3-0 victory at Ceara, keeping their perfect start to the season intact.

Argentinian striker German Cano put the visitors ahead in the 68th minute with a low finish after an Andrey Ramos through ball. Felipe Bastos doubled Vasco's lead by thumping in a long-range effort before Ribamar Lopes completed the rout in stoppage time with a cool finish on the counter-attack.

The result left Vasco with nine points from three matches, ahead of Internacional and Atletico Mineiro on goal difference.

Meanwhile, Sao Paulo earned a 1-1 home draw with Bahia thanks to a late strike from Luciano Rocha. Rossi Pereira had given the visitors an early lead by lifting a shot over goalkeeper Tiago Volpi following a perfectly weighted Rodriguinho pass.

In Thursday's only other fixture, former Changchun Yatai striker Marinho scored his third goal in four games to hand Santos a 1-0 win at Sport Recife.