Santos took a deep breath in the fight against relegation in the Brazilian Championship. This Friday (28), Peixe beat Sport 3-0 at Vila Belmiro, in Santos (SP), for the 36th round, gaining two positions in the standings.
Alvinegro Praiano left the relegation zone, reaching the same 41 points as Internacional and being ahead, in 15th place, on goal difference.
As they overtook Colorado, it is certain that the São Paulo club will finish the round outside the Z4, which brings together the last four placed teams. Leão rubro-negro, which accumulated its ninth consecutive defeat, is in last place, with 17 points, with no more chances of remaining in the first division.
Despite his presence being doubted due to an injury to his left knee, Neymar was not only listed but started the duel as a starter. And it was from his feet that the first Santos goal came from.
In a counterattack from the right, striker Guilherme reversed the play for the number 10 to enter the area and finish in the left corner of goalkeeper Gabriel, in the 25th minute.
Ten minutes later, after a corner kick from the right, midfielder William Arão headed the ball and hit Sport’s right post.
In the remainder, defender Rafael Thyere tried to move away, but hit the shot over midfielder Lucas Kal, from his own team. The ball deflected and went into Leão’s net, increasing the black and white advantage.
In the final stage, in the 22nd minute, Neymar took a corner from the left and midfielder João Schmidt headed it into Gabriel’s left corner.
And the fourth could have come four minutes later, when full-back Matheus Alexandre brought down midfielder Álvaro Barreal in the area. Referee Felipe Fernandes de Lima awarded a penalty, but took it back after reviewing the play on video and seeing midfielder Zé Rafael offside.
Underwater thrashing
Earlier, Vasco ended a sequence of five consecutive defeats with a 5-1 defeat of Internacional, in São Januário. The triumph ensured the Rio team’s permanence in Série A and kept the Gauchos threatened with relegation.
The match was interrupted for more than an hour due to the conditions of the pitch amid the heavy rain that fell in Rio de Janeiro. The game was at halftime. Despite the teams wanting to postpone, referee Rodrigo José Pereira de Lima opted for the meeting to continue.
Cruzmaltino continues with the dream of going to the Libertadores for the Brasileirão alive. If Cruzeiro (3rd) or Fluminense (5th) win the Copa do Brasil, they will open an extra place in the main competition on the continent, destined for eighth place in Series A, a position currently occupied by São Paulo. With 45 points, the Rio team is 10th, three points behind Tricolor. Colorado can end the 36th round at Z4 if Vitória overcomes Mirassol on Saturday (29), at 4pm (Brasília time), at Barradão, in Salvador.
After eight minutes, Vasco was already leading 2-0. After three minutes, Andrés Gómez disarmed defender Braian Aguirre in the Inter field, entered the area and opened the scoring. Five minutes later, fellow striker Rayan completed the assist from full-back Paulo Henrique on the right into the net. At 46, center forward Ricardo Mathias scored after a cross from midfielder Alan Rodríguez.
After the long interruption due to rain, Gigante da Colina returned from the break ready to increase their score.
One minute into the second half, Gómez kicked a cross, Rayan took advantage and finished for the goal. At 11, after a corner kick, midfielder Cauan Barros had to finish twice to beat goalkeeper Sérgio Rochet and score the home team’s fourth. The fifth came in the 19th minute, with striker Nuno Moreira receiving it from Paulo Henrique and hitting Rochet’s corner.
Youth falls to Series B
In another game tonight, Juventude drew 1-1 with Bahia at the Alfredo Jaconi Stadium, in Caxias do Sul (RS). With 34 points, the team from Rio Grande do Sul had its relegation to Series B ordered two rounds in advance, as it depended on a stumble by Santos against Sport.
Esquadrão de Aço, which reached 57 points with the draw and was further away from a direct place in the Libertadores group stage, took the lead 20 minutes into the first half, with a shot from outside the area by Ademir.
Seven minutes later, fellow striker Gabriel Taliari took advantage of a cross from full-back Marcelo Hermes on the left and left everything the same. Juventude even found the net once again, in the 20th minute of the final stage, with midfielder Marcos Paulo, on a bicycle, but the shot was canceled due to offside.
