Santos four unbeaten, but lack composure to win in Bragança | OneFootball

By Rodrigo M. Keller

Santos drew 2-2 with Red Bull Bragantino this Sunday, reaching their fourth unbeaten game in the Brazilian Championship. Despite extending the unbeaten run, Santos failed in effectiveness to score more goals and could have left Bragança Paulista with a victory.

Overall, Juan Pablo Vojvoda's team was superior to Bragantino for almost the entire game. The team started the match on top of Massa Bruta, frequently occupying the attacking sector and showing good defensive solidity, without giving the opponent a chance to score. However, the team missed four goals, one of them clear, and failed in the final pass. At 30 minutes, due to a mistake in the defensive system, they conceded the first goal, and that old saying comes into action: if you don't score, you concede.

Naturally, the team felt the goal and dropped in production in the last third of the first half. However, the players returned from the break with the same attitude shown in the initial stage and, in the first 15 minutes of the second half, turned the game around. Lautaro Díaz, well positioned, took advantage of a good low cross from Souza and stretched to equalize. Then, the team took advantage of the space left by Bragantino, and Barreal, after a pass from Lautaro, finished well in the goalkeeper's exit to score the second goal.

Santos continued to perform better after turning the game around, but without the impetus shown at the beginning of the final stage. At the corner, the team is punished. At 30 minutes, defender Pedro Henrique, who had also scared a little before in a set-piece situation, equalized. Despite the merit of the defensive player, Santos' defense could have done better, but they let him rise alone and tie the game. After the goal conceded, the coastal team created new chances, but continued without care to retake the lead. In total, there were 18 shots against the opponent's eight.

Therefore, based on what was presented, the result is unfair. Santos was better than Bragantino and would have left with a victory if it were not for the number of missed goals. However, the team's evolution is evident, as they stopped presenting apathetic performances and started to impose themselves more in the games.

However, more than good performances, Santos needs results. The team remains in the lower part of the table, occupying the 16th position, five points from the relegation zone. In the next round, a direct confrontation against Grêmio at Vila Belmiro where a victory is extremely important.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.