Soccer-Atletico Mineiro close gap on league leaders with 3-1 win

BELO HORIZONTE, Brazil, Jan 17 (Reuters) - Atletico Mineiro closed the gap on Brazilian league leaders Sao Paulo to four points with a comfortable 3-1 win at home to Atletico Goianiense on Sunday.

The home side started the day six points behind Sao Paulo but their win, coupled with Sao Paulo's 1-1 draw at Athletico Paranaense, cut the deficit with five weeks of the season left.

Atletico have a game in hand over the leaders and are level on points with third-placed Internacional, who play later on Sunday against Fortaleza.

Hyoran got Atletico Mineiro off the mark with a spectacular volley after 13 minutes and Junior Alonso added a second with a header three minutes before halftime.

Jair made it 3-0 by heding in from a corner 16 minutes into the second period before Janderson scored a consolation for the visitors a quarter of an hour from the end. (Reporting by Andrew Downie; Editing by Ken Ferris)