Santos secured a 2-0 victory over Red Bull Bragantino on Saturday night at Vila Belmiro, in the 15th round of the Brazilian Championship. Neymar opened the scoring late in the first half, and Adonis Frías extended the lead in the second period. The No. 10 presented a shirt to Nadine as he left the field, as all Santos players wore their mothers’ names on their jerseys in honor of Mother’s Day.
Neymar celebrates a Santos goal on Mother’s Day with Nadine. (Photo: Mauricio De Souza/AGIF/Folhapress)
“I’m happy with the goal and for helping the team. I’m also pleased with the win because we hadn’t won in a while, and today we couldn’t let it slip. We’re happy. We have the quality to advance on Wednesday, so we’ll prepare for the game against Coritiba in the Copa do Brasil,” Neymar explained.
The team returned to playing at home after four matches and now faces a decisive Copa do Brasil clash. On Wednesday (13), they will take on Coritiba at 7:30 PM (Brasília time) in the fifth round of the competition.
Neymar in action for Santos at Vila Belmiro. (Photo: Jota Erre/AGIF/Folhapress)
Coach Cuca also praised Neymar, who opened the scoring against Bragantino. “Neymar played a very good game. He held the ball well, created chances, and made brilliant plays that put his teammates in goal-scoring positions. He scored a great goal. He was involved in the move we trained for the second goal, providing the assist indirectly. Then Barreal played the final pass. He had a very good game. When he got tired, Gabigol came on,” Cuca said.
What’s next: Santos will face Coritiba again on Wednesday (13) at 7:30 PM (Brasília time) at Couto Pereira, in the fifth round of the Copa do Brasil. The first leg, played on April 22 at Vila Belmiro, ended in a goalless draw. Then, next Sunday (17), the team meets Coritiba again, this time in the Brazilian Championship, at 11 AM (Brasília time) at Neo Química Arena, one day before the Brazilian national team squad announcement for the World Cup.
