RIO DE JANEIRO, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Paraguayan defender Gustavo Gomez scored an early goal as leader Palmeiras edged to a 1-0 home win over Athletico Paranaense in Brazil's Serie A on Sunday.

Gomez lashed a low drive into the far corner after Paranaense failed to deal with Andreas Pereira's delivery from a corner.

The hosts were reduced to 10 men early in the second half when Murilo Cerqueira received a second yellow card for a bad challenge on Colombian winger Kevin Viveros.

But the Sao Paulo club defended resolutely in the second half to register its ninth win of the campaign.

Palmeiras now has 29 points, six clear of second-placed Flamengo, which has a game in hand. Paranaense is sixth, 10 points off the pace.

In other Brazilian top-flight fixtures on Sunday, Flamengo won 2-0 at home to Bahia, Bragantino secured a 4-2 home victory over Remo, Fluminense prevailed 3-2 at Santos, Coritiba won 2-0 at home to Atletico Mineiro and Mirassol clinched a 2-1 win at Internacional. ■