Santos show promise in defeat to Flamengo, hope for better days | OneFootball

JP Cardoso

Santos went to Maracanã this Sunday and was defeated by Flamengo 3-2, in the 33rd round of the Brazilian Championship. The Peixe, fighting to escape the relegation zone, was naturally an “underdog” against the Rubro-Negro, one of the contenders for the competition's title.

For the match, coach Juan Pablo Vojvoda once again fielded attacking midfielder Neymar, who was rested in the defeat against Palmeiras midweek. Additionally, the Santos coach fielded a team with three defensive midfielders against Flamengo, a decision that proved correct, especially in the first half.

As explained in the post-match press conference, Vojvoda wanted a more “crowded” midfield, aiming to disrupt Flamengo's game flow. Santos not only halted the Cariocas' momentum for a while but also went on the attack and had good chances.

The goal that opened the scoring for Flamengo, from a set piece, came from an unfortunate mix-up between Brazão and Arão, who got tangled up in the play that resulted in Léo Pereira's goal. If it weren't for the goal conceded, Santos would have been the better team in the first half, as they had nine shots compared to six from the Cariocas. Furthermore, the Peixe created two great chances against none from Flamengo.

Despite the partial defeat, Santos remained organized and in the game against Flamengo. However, Arrascaeta, with yet another magical pass in his career, set up Carrascal for a clear shot to extend the lead.

The second goal seemed to be an emotional blow for Santos, who saw everything collapse with Igor Vinícius's mistake on Flamengo's third goal. The full-back only played because Mayke, the regular starter, was suspended.

And even with a 3-0 score against them, Santos found strength from nowhere to score twice in injury time and ignite the end of the game at Maracanã.

Better Days Ahead?

The defeats to Palmeiras and Flamengo could be considered expected, but even so, Santos showed a good stance against the main contenders for the Brazilian Championship title.

Neymar did not have a great performance this Sunday, but the tendency is for the number 10 to gain rhythm in training to become even more dangerous as the competition progresses.

Moreover, even though it may seem like a “more defensive” setup, Vojvoda might have found a new balance point in the trio of defensive midfielders he tested, as Santos fights to stay afloat in the battle against relegation.

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