Striker Thiago Cunha scored twice Wednesday to lead Palmeiras to a 3-0 win over fellow Brazilian team Vasco da Gama and into the second round of the Copa Sudamericana. In a game dominated from start to finish by Palmeiras, Cunha opened the scoring in the 33rd minute when he picked up a pass from midfielder Maicosuel and sent the ball over Vasco goalkeeper Roberto's head and into the net. Denilson scored Palmeiras' second goal in the 56th minute when Roberto failed to clear a powerful shot from Kleber. Cunha grabbed his second goal in the 83rd minute after outmaneuvering several Vasco players and slamming the ball into the net. Fabiano banned Melbourne Victory's Brazilian striker Ney Fabiano has received a nine-match ban after being found guilty of spitting at an opponent during an Australian A-League match last weekend. Fabiano, signed from Thai club Chonburi FC last June, was found guilty of the charge after a four-hour tribunal hearing in Sydney late Wednesday. Fabiano was sent off in the 29th minute of the match against Adelaide United after an altercation with Adelaide defender Robert Cornthwaite. The judiciary committee said it found that Fabiano had deliberately spat at Cornthwaite. The nine-match suspension is second only in length in the A-League to the nine-month ban given to Central Coast Mariners goalkeeper Danny Vukovic for striking the hand of referee Mark Shield in last season's grand final. The suspension follows the five-match ban handed to Perth's Dino Djulbic after he was found guilty of spitting on the ground as a show of dissent toward the match referee. The tribunal said Fabiano would not be eligible to play for the Victory until their round 14 match against Perth Glory on Dec. 6.
