Last Sunday (8), Santos could have beaten Noroeste, in Bauru, with some ease, with an elastic score. However, he preferred to add excitement to the game until the end, in a clear attempt to generate entertainment on a sleepy Sunday afternoon.
If the team lacks technical quality and defensive consistency, it has a unique ability to transform any attack from the opponent into madness worthy of a street block. A possible place in the next phase will be surprising, as Santos seems to have done everything to stumble again and be eliminated early from the State Championship.
Still, with the 2-1 victory in Bauru, we don’t know how, Santos avoided any risk of relegation in Paulistão and has a chance of qualifying for the next phase, depending only on a simple victory against Velo Clube, in addition to a very likely combination of results in the last round.
Against Noroeste, Santos even started the match well, exchanging passes and opening the scoring with a goal scored by Escobar. Then, Gabigol went on to expand after an assist from Rony, but the move was canceled due to offside. Afterwards, Noroeste tied with a corner kick. Rony, one of the best on the field, gave Santos the lead again after a beautiful pass from Gabriel Bontempo to Igor Vinicius. 2 to 1.
At the end of the first half, the expulsion of Thiago Lopes, from Noroeste, made the game even more favorable to Santos. In theory, of course. I imagined a calm game, without major scares and with chances of improving the goal difference. I was successfully deceived.
One should never doubt Santos’ ability to transform a seemingly controlled game into a chaotic and desperate event. The opponent, realizing the defensive fragility of the team led by Vojvoda, especially in the air, abused the crosses and got the better of practically every move.
Gabriel Brazão made at least two great saves to avoid a draw in the second half. The Santos goalkeeper has excellent reflexes, but he needs to improve his high clearance on crossed balls, especially when the defense is formed by Zé Ivaldo and Luan Peres, two defenders as static as they are insecure.
Even in the face of so many absences, a complicated sequence of games and so much pressure, Santos could have resolved the game earlier and avoided unnecessary suffering in the end. On the offensive, Rony played a good game, showing willingness, while Gabigol and Rollheiser disappointed again. Thaciano and Lautaro didn’t start well either, which isn’t surprising.
The greatest urgency is in defense. Of the 12 goals conceded by the team so far this season, at least five came from aerial plays. It’s not just about the team’s short stature, but about poor positioning and inattention.
In Noroeste’s equalizer, Barreal could not be responsible for marking the opposing defender. Something was wrong. Vojvoda needs to find solutions for the sector, not even the absence of Willian Arão can serve as a justification for the team’s defensive incompetence.
The result is positive. Santos won again after seven matches, is still alive in Paulistão and is regaining, albeit timidly, some of its confidence. “You have to know how to suffer,” said Vojvoda after the match. An unfortunate phrase. Santos doesn’t need to learn to suffer. You simply need to stop.
Guilherme Rodrigues Simões is a sports journalist and writes from Santos (SP).
The Praça do Leitor blog is a collaborative space in which newspaper readers can publish their own productions. To submit materials, send a message to ler@grupofolha.com.br
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