Arboleda points to São Paulo flaw after Santos comeback: “Lack of focus” | OneFootball

The 2-1 defeat to Santos this Friday, the 2nd, at Morumbi, in the Brazilian Championship, left São Paulo facing criticism that goes beyond the result. After opening the scoring with Luciano, the team suffered a comeback with two goals from Gabigol and dropped points at home once again.

São Paulo carried out in the first half what had been instructed by the coaching staff. The team managed to control the match for much of the opening period and went into halftime with the lead. After the break, however, the scenario changed.

Santos found spaces, reacted quickly, and turned the match around. In Arboleda’s view, the two goals conceded were directly related to lapses in concentration. The defender also acknowledged the weight of the missed opportunity in front of the home crowd.

Robert Arboleda regrets comeback at Morumbi

São Paulo had the chance to extend the lead, but failed to turn their early dominance into a more comfortable result. Gabigol’s equalizer came shortly after Luciano’s goal, and the comeback was completed in the second half.

“We regret not getting the three points. The first half was wonderful, we did what the coach asked. Unfortunately, we conceded two goals because of our own lapses in concentration,” said the center back in an interview with Sportv, before continuing:

“Now we have to keep our heads up and think about the next game, another final. Every game is a final for us with everything that’s going on. We have to apologize to the fans,” the Ecuadorian defender said after the match.

São Paulo need to respond quickly

The second half showed the team’s difficulty in protecting the lead. In trying to score a second goal, São Paulo ended up leaving spaces and allowed Santos to take advantage of the opportunities that came their way.

“In the first half we did what the coach asked. In the second, because we were playing at home, we went looking for the second goal and, in a lapse of concentration, we ended up losing the lead. Now it’s time to rest and think about Wednesday’s match,” he concluded.

Cruzeiro emerges as the next test

The defeat left São Paulo on 36 points, in 11th place in the Brazilian Championship. Santos, in turn, reached 41 points and moved up to seventh place. Tricolor do Morumbi will have little time to process the result.

On Wednesday, the team visits Cruzeiro at Mineirão in another match that takes on importance in their attempt to recover in the league. Santos, meanwhile, return to the field on Thursday against Flamengo at Vila Belmiro.

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