🎥 Neymar hat-trick sends Santos into Copa do Brasil final round in comfort | OneFootball

Santos will depend only on their own efforts to remain in the top tier of the Brasileirão.

Playing at Alfredo Jaconi, Peixe defeated Juventude 3-0 on Wednesday night (3rd), in the 37th round.

Thanks to THREE goals from Neymar in front of 15,343 spectators.

He had already punished the team from Serra with two goals in the first half of the season.

Without a 'sense of urgency'

The first half from Santos was not what the fans expected.

They faced a Juventude side that controlled the game and even scored with Taliari, but it was ruled offside.

Peixe took a while to pose a real threat. And wasted a great chance with Guilherme—leaving those same fans frustrated.

Neymar decides it 🔥

Guilherme "redeemed" himself by finishing a good move from Peixe in the ninth minute of the second half, setting Neymar up perfectly to score.

"Lighter", Santos picked up the pace. And extended the lead after a lethal counterattack finished by Neymar in the 20th minute.

After a missed chance by Vojvoda's team, VAR called Wilton Pereira Sampaio.

And he confirmed a penalty on Lautaro Díaz.

Securing Neymar's third goal (28').

He hadn't scored three times in a single match since April 9, 2022, when PSG beat Clermont 6-1 in Ligue 1.

Santos remained superior against a rival that had no strength left. And celebrated a crucial result.

Standings situation 📊

Peixe now has 44 points and goes into the match against Cruzeiro at Vila Belmiro depending only on themselves.

It will be one of the ten games of the 38th and final round of the Brasileirão on Sunday (7th).

The current standings are as follows:

14th - Santos - 44 points, 11 wins and -8 goal difference

15th - Ceará - 43 points, 11 wins and -3 goal difference*

16th - Fortaleza - 43 points, 11 wins and -13 goal difference

17th - Vitória - 42 points, ten wins and -18 goal difference

18th - Internacional 41 points, ten wins and -15 goal difference

* Currently playing against Flamengo

Photo: Reproduction/Santos 

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