Santos impress v Galo, but red card nearly costs them | OneFootball

Marcelo Baseggio

Santos played a good match against Atlético-MG this Sunday at Arena MRV in Belo Horizonte, for the 23rd round of the Campeonato Brasileiro. The teams drew 1-1, but at least in the first half, it was Peixe who controlled the match.

Boosted by the debuts of Lautaro Díaz and Victor Hugo, Peixe managed to impose themselves even while playing away and had the best chances of the first half, most of them with Neymar.

Santos’ number 10, however, couldn’t capitalize on clear goal opportunities, even “whiffing” the ball on one of them, something unthinkable for those who know his best version.

In the second half, however, Zé Ivaldo compromised the game Santos was playing in Belo Horizonte by committing a foul on Hulk, receiving a second yellow card, and being sent off in the opening minutes.

With a numerical disadvantage, Santos saw Atlético-MG grow and take advantage of the moment to open the scoring with Igor Gomes. From then on, coach Juan Pablo Vojvoda tried to make some changes to the team in search of an unlikely equalizer.

Fate would have it that one of the players brought on by the Argentine coach, Tiquinho Soares, would win a penalty at the last minute. The striker himself took the shot and didn’t waste it, ending a 14-game goal drought and securing a precious draw for Peixe.

Santos’ performance after Zé Ivaldo’s sending off shouldn’t be used as a benchmark, but even when at a numerical disadvantage, the team led by Vojvoda was brave and managed to compete with Atlético-MG to the point of scoring a goal, which demonstrates the character of the squad and their commitment to getting out of their uncomfortable situation in the Campeonato Brasileiro.

Despite the point earned in Belo Horizonte, Santos remains in a delicate situation in the Brasileirão, hovering near the relegation zone. However, the attitude the team showed in Belo Horizonte gives fans a good outlook for the future.

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