Santos counted on Gabigol to beat Novorizontino, 2-1, at Vila Belmiro, in Santos, this Saturday afternoon (10). The match was valid for the first round of the Campeonato Paulista and marked the return of the center forward to the club that revealed him and where he played professionally from 2013 to 2016 and in 2018.
Just two minutes into the game, the striker on loan from Cruzeiro found the net, but the play ended up being canceled due to an offside by Willian Arão. At 11, Gabigol scored another strong shot, but was saved by goalkeeper Jordi.
The Novo Horizonte team improved from midway through the first half and began to attack more, with coordination made by midfielders Luís Oyama (who belongs to Botafogo) and Rômulo (on loan from Palmeiras). It was from the feet of the São Paulo rival’s player that the assist came for Diego Galo to open the scoring for the visitors, in the 24th minute, with a shot from the left that went under Gabriel Brazão.
At 33, the Santos goalkeeper still had to work twice to prevent the visiting team from extending the score after an attempt by Rômulo and Tavinho at the edge of the area.
After the goal, the black and white team had some good opportunities not taken advantage of and the fans did not forgive Caballero’s mistakes, who was booed at the end of the first half and ended up being replaced by Robinho Júnior at half-time. Neymar, who is recovering from surgery on his left knee and has had his contract renewed until the end of the year, watched the match from a box at the stadium.
The equalizer came six minutes into the second half in a play worked by Rollheiser, Lautaro Díaz and Gabigol, who took advantage of the surplus and struck first time. It was the striker’s 85th goal with the Santos shirt.
Thaciano came on for Rollheiser and hit the crossbar in the 28th minute after a strong header. The turning goal came with his feet — at 43, the midfielder advanced into the area after a cross from Igor Vinícius and pushed it into the back of the net to confirm the first three points for the team coached by Juan Pablo Vojvoda.
Santos’ next commitment will be Palmeiras, on Wednesday (14), in São Paulo. Novorizontino will host Guarani on Tuesday (13).
