Just as occurred in the victory against Mirassol in the debut, Santos showed an inconsistency between its sectors, especially at the back, giving space and getting in tight with the opposing attack.
The offensive DNA so promised by Pedro Caixinha at Santos was not repeated against Ponte Preta this Sunday (19) night, in Campinas. With a lack of playmaking and little quality to attack without the preserved Venezuelan Soteldo, the team came out at a disadvantage, managed to score 1-1 at Moisés Lucarelli and, after Guilherme’s third goal in the Campeonato Paulista, just made time pass to hold the equality.
After starting with a victory over Mirassol, Santos maintained their unbeaten record in a game in which goalkeeper Digo Silva did little to work. On the other hand, they had some scares and never produced enough to seek leadership in Group B, in which they have the same four points as Guarani, but lose the lead on goal difference.
The team’s lateral touches in the final minutes drove Pedro Caixinha crazy. He wanted his players “hungry for victory” and trying to win until the end. But the passing cadence was irritating. If it weren’t for goalkeeper Gabriel Brazão, with a giant save in the last minute, the result would have been a defeat.
After the final whistle, the coaches were surprised at the edge of the field and Caixinha did not accept Alberto Valentin’s greeting after being charged by his rival throughout the game. The Portuguese needed to be held back. Still knowing his role at Santos, Pedro Caixinha made changes to the lineup in relation to the victory over Mirassol and, among the new additions, a player that the fans like and have huge expectations for, but that his predecessor Fábio Carille snubbed: the young Miguelito.
The Bolivian was one of the new additions to the team without Soteldo and with newcomer Leo Godoy on the right wing and Thaciano up front. In defense, José Ivaldo also appeared, demonstrating that Gil seems without prestige after abandoning retirement. The experienced player tends to be one of the leaders on the field for the Portuguese commander, who does not sympathize with the former Corinthians defender.
With the ball rolling, after a minute of silence in honor of journalist Léo Batista, Santos started offensive. And, from the feet of the cheeky Bolivian attacking midfielder came Santos’ first dangerous chance. Ponte’s goalkeeper ruined the boy’s party by palming him. Brazão also started his work early with excellence on the other side.
Just as happened in the victory against Mirassol in the debut, Santos showed an inconsistency between its sectors, especially at the back, giving space and getting in tight with the opponent’s attack. The team managed to irritate Caixinha with less than a half completed, to the point that the Portuguese immediately put three substitutes in warm-up.
The commander’s concern was justified. Ponte Preta grew in the stage and commanded all the actions, winning physical clashes and with more “ambition”. Free among a lost Santos defense, Jean Dias “flew” to open the scoring with a header. Caixinha showed his indignation at halftime by leaving Miguelito and Escobar in the locker room. I wanted to improve the defensive part on the left and, at the same time, have creation in the middle, one of the shortcomings of the opening 45 minutes.
Struggling, Santos quickly achieved equality. And for the third time in the competition with the enlightened Guilherme. The striker appeared right in the middle of the box to complete Luca Meirelles’ back pass. Nothing to inflame the stage, however. Santos looked like they just wanted to draw and after seeking equality, they positioned themselves to prevent the suffocation of the first half from happening again. Better positioned from the middle to the back, the Baixada team managed to cool down their rival and return home with another point in the competition.
TECHNICAL SHEET
PONTE PRETA
BLACK BRIDGE
Diogo Silva; Pacheco, Saimon, Artur (Castro) and Danilo Barcellos; Maguinho, Emerson and Léo Oliveira; Pedro Vilhena (Elvis), Serginho (Renato) and Jean Dias (Everton Brito). Coach: Alberto Valentin
SANTOS
Gabriel Brazão; Leo Godoy, José Ivaldo, Luan Peres and Escobar (Souza); Diego Pituca (João Schmidt), Tomás Rincón and Miguelito (Lucas Braga); Thaciano, Luca Meirelles (Wendel Silva) and Guilherme (Hayner). Coach: Pedro Caixinha
GOALS
Jean Dias, 42 minutes into the first half; Guilherme, at 8 of the second
YELLOW CARDS
Luan Peres, Escobar and Zé Ivaldo (Santos); Serginho (Ponte Preta)
ARBITRATOR
Vinicius Gonçalves Araújo
LOCAL
Moisés Lucarelli, in Campinas
See how the game was broadcast on Jovem Pan
*With information from Estadão Conteúdo
Posted by Carolina Ferreira
