📹 Neymar shines as Santos beat leaders Flamengo, ease drop fears

At Vila Belmiro, Santos beat Flamengo 1-0 on Wednesday (16), in the 14th round of the 2025 Brasileirão.

The initial stage was very disputed, but with few clear scoring chances. With greater technical quality, the Rubro-Negro maintained possession of the ball, while the Peixe opted for counterattacks.

And it was precisely in a counterattack that the Peixe achieved victory, at the end of the second half.

The Rubro-Negro had not been breached in the Brasileirão for five rounds.

COM GOLAÇO DE NEYMAR JR, O SANTOS VENCE O FLAMENGO NA VILA BELMIRO! ⚪️⚫️ pic.twitter.com/ZiVArojERm

— Santos FC (@SantosFC) July 17, 2025

⚽ The game

With a very involving exchange of passes, Flamengo almost opened the scoring in Gonzalo Plata's finish from the entrance of the area, but Gabriel Brazão made a spectacular save.

MINHA NOSSA! No chute de Plata, do Flamengo, o goleiro do Santos Brazão fez essa defesa ABSURDA. 👀🥶 pic.twitter.com/GnU4axY4uQ

— ge (@geglobo) July 16, 2025

Santos responded still in the initial stage, when Léo Ortiz missed the ball out, and Neymar gave the pass to Deivid Washington, who shot into the corner, but Rossi made the save.

CONTRA-ATAQUE QUASE PERFEITO! 👀🔥
Após erro de passe de Léo Ortiz, do Flamengo, o Santos chega ao ataque com Neymar. Deivid Washington finaliza de longa distância pra defesa de Rossi. pic.twitter.com/ojblbRtMvA

— ge (@geglobo) July 16, 2025

⏱️ Interval

On the way back from the locker room, Flamengo reported that Léo Ortiz felt pain in the gluteal region and, therefore, was replaced by Léo Pereira.

Just two minutes in, Arrascaeta gave a spectacular pass to Plata, who tried to cover Brazão, but the Santos goalkeeper made a good save.

The Peixe goalkeeper would appear again in the dangerous free kick by De la Cruz (28').

The match marked the debut of Robinho Jr, 17, in the professional team, in an official match. The son of the former player had already entered the field in the friendly against Desportiva Ferrovária.

ROBINHO JR. EM CAMPO PELO SANTOS! 7️⃣
Filho do ex-jogador Robinho, o novo camisa 7 segue o caminho do pai no futebol e entra pela primeira em uma partida do Brasileirão, aos 17 anos. #robinho#neymar#santos#flamengo#brasileirão#campeonatobrasileiro#futebolpic.twitter.com/oTIYxLI7R1

— ge (@geglobo) July 17, 2025

Neymar, who didn't have a great first half, improved in the final stage.

QUE DEFESA! 😱 Guilherme recebe de Neymar e cruza na área, mas Rossi afasta de soco. Neymar pega o rebote na entrada da área, domina e solta a bomba. Rossi de novo defende!#neymar#santos#flamengo#brasileirão#campeonatobrasileiro#futebolpic.twitter.com/YMgX5lrCUH

— ge (@geglobo) July 17, 2025

After forcing Rossi to defend a bomb from the entrance of the area, the star opened the scoring for Santos after receiving in the area from Guilherme, who pulled the counterattack on the left.

In the small area, Neymar spun over the marking and kicked with his right foot to take away any chance of defense from Rossi.

GOLAÇO DE NEYMAR! 🫲🤪🫱
Neymar desencanta no Brasileirão! Gabriel Bontempo abre na esquerda para Guilherme, que encontra Neymar na área. O camisa 10 se livra de Léo Pereira, de Varela e bate cruzado para vencer Rossi!#neymar#santos#flamengo#brasileirão#campeonatobrasileiro… pic.twitter.com/goVZ7ajL35

— ge (@geglobo) July 17, 2025

This is the first goal of the Santos idol in the Brasileirão since he returned to national football, at the beginning of the year.

🚦 How it stands

With the victory, Santos reached 14 points and moved away from the Z-4, rising to 14th place in the table.

Flamengo remained with 27 points and may lose the leadership on Thursday (17), as Cruzeiro, who has the same score, visits Fluminense.

Rubro-Negro returns to the field on Sunday (20), at Maracanã, for the classic Fla-Flu. Peixe visits Mirassol, at Maião, on Saturday (19).

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.

📸 Ricardo Moreira - 2025 Getty Images