CAXIAS DO SUL, Brazil (Interstat) — Palmeiras began its Carioca Série A campaign with a 2-0 victory over Juventude on Sunday at Estádio Alfredo Jaconi. Substitute Bruno Nascimento opened the scoring in the 24th minute before fellow substitute Felipe Anderson doubled the lead in the 61st. Both second-half goals were assisted by Wilker Ángel and Aníbal Moreno, respectively. The win defied a pregame projection from Interstat that had forecast a 1-1 draw, though its system heavily favored Palmeiras to win. The result gives Palmeiras a winning start to the Brazilian state competition.