The victory keeps Gremio five points ahead of second-place Palmeiras, which beat Atletico Paranaense 2-1. Gremio, which hadn't won in three matches, has 48 points from 23 matches.

Soares opened the scoring at Olimpico Stadium with a header in the 55th minute. Vasco, winless in two matches, got on the board through forward Alan Kardec in the 71st but four minutes later Marcel sealed the victory with another header.

A two-time Copa Libertadores champion, Gremio is trying to win its first Brazilian championship since 1996.

Palmeiras, which hasn't won the national competition since 1994, got past Atletico Paranaense behind a pair of goals by former Gremio midfielder Diego Souza. He scored in each half to give Palmeiras its first away victory in nearly a month and first at the Arena da Baixada Stadium since it was inaugurated in 1999.

Atletico, struggling to stay out of the relegation zone, had its losing streak extended to three matches. It got on the board in Curitiba with a goal by midfielder Alan Bahia.

Third-place Cruzeiro missed an opportunity to close up to the leaders after allowing a last-minute equalizer to Atletico rival Coritiba at Mineirao Stadium in Belo Horizonte, drawing 1-1 and staying eight points back from Gremio.

In Rio de Janeiro, World Cup veteran Kleberson scored in the 89th minute to give Flamengo a 2-2 draw against rival Fluminense at Maracana.

Argentine midfielder Rubens Sambueza, making his debut with Flamengo, came off the bench to set up Kleberson's goal. Argentine midfielder Dario Conca scored Fluminense's first goal.

Fifth-place Sao Paulo, the defending champion, failed to move up the standings by drawing Santos 0-0 at Morumbi Stadium, a result that left Santos _ a two-time Copa Libertadores champion _ in second-to-last place with only 23 points from as many matches. The bottom four clubs will be demoted at the end of the season.

Sao Paulo is 10 points behind Gremio.

In other results on Sunday, Sport beat Internacional 1-0 in Recife, while Atletico Mineiro drew Portuguesa 1-1 in Sao Paulo.

On Saturday, fourth-place Botafogo was held by Nautico to 1-1 at Engenhao Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, while sixth-place Vitoria drew last-place Ipatinga 0-0 in Salvador.