Rony becomes Santos focal point in Sudamericana bid, set to start against Macará | OneFootball

Rony has emerged as Santos’ attacking reference since the World Cup pause, sharing the club’s scoring lead with Gabigol in this second half of the year as they chase a Sudamericana quarter-final place.

According to Globo.com, with Gabigol and Neymar rested for the trip to Ambato, Rony should start against Macará on Thursday at 19:00, Brasília time.

Since the restart, he has scored three goals for Santos, two of them in the continental competition, which the club view as a title opportunity. Despite the current priority of improving their Brasileirão campaign, Cuca has rested regulars and given chances to reserves such as Rony for this decisive tie at around 2,600 metres.

Rony found the net in both matches against Universidad Central de Venezuela in the play-off that took Santos into the last 16. His strike in the first leg in Venezuela ended a five-month drought, his previous goal having come in February against Noroeste in the Paulistão.

He also struck the winner in the 1-0 victory at Remo at the Mangueirão, sending Santos into the Copa do Brasil quarter-finals. With a 2-1 first-leg advantage from Vila Belmiro, a draw in Ecuador would be enough to reach the Sudamericana last eight, and another Rony goal could edge them closer.

Source: Globo.com

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”