Soccer-Avai relegated in Brazil after scoreless draw at Cruzeiro

BELO HORIZONTE, Nov 18 (Reuters) - Avai became the first team relegated from Brazil’s Serie A this season after they were held to a 0-0 draw at fellow strugglers Cruzeiro on Monday.

With four teams to be relegated, Florianopolis sit at the foot of the table on 18 points with five games left. Fluminense, fourth from bottom, have 35 points.

While just outside the relegation zone on 36 points, Cruzeiro are also in trouble and their fans made their displeasure known long before the end of the game.

The club are one of the few top tier sides never to have been relegated from Brazil’s first division.

(Reporting by Andrew Downie; Editing by Peter Rutherford )