Neymar marked his return from a right-thigh injury with two late penalties as Santos recovered from a two-goal deficit to draw 2–2 with Flamengo in the Brazilian Serie A. The forward, who had been sidelined since 2 September, came on at the start of the second half and scored in the 82nd and 88th minutes to prevent his side from suffering defeat at the Vila Belmiro.
The result ended the winning runs of both teams. Santos had won seven consecutive matches before the encounter, while Flamengo had secured five successive victories. Although neither side managed to claim all three points, Neymar’s decisive intervention transformed the contest and earned Santos a valuable point.
Neymar was left out of Santos’ starting line-up because of concerns about his match fitness following his injury lay-off. Head coach Cuca introduced him at the beginning of the second half, replacing Philippe Coutinho, with Flamengo already leading 2–0.
Flamengo had taken control of the match during the first half. Danilo opened the scoring in the 43rd minute, before Lucas Paquetá extended the visitors’ advantage in first-half stoppage time. The two goals put Flamengo in a strong position, leaving Santos with considerable work to do after the interval.
Despite Neymar’s introduction, the hosts initially struggled to create clear-cut scoring opportunities. Their hopes of a comeback received a major boost, however, when Flamengo midfielder Jorginho handled the ball inside his own penalty area. Following a lengthy Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review, the referee awarded Santos a penalty and sent Jorginho off.
The review lasted nine minutes and 56 seconds before Neymar was able to take the spot-kick. According to the original match report, it was the longest interruption caused by a VAR review since the technology was introduced in the Brazilian championship in 2019.
Neymar converted confidently to reduce the deficit. With Flamengo down to 10 men, Santos increased the pressure and began to exploit its numerical advantage.
The equaliser arrived just four minutes later. Flamengo winger Luiz Araújo fouled Santos forward Gabriel Barbosa inside the penalty area, prompting the referee to award another penalty. Neymar stepped forward once again and converted with his right foot, bringing the score to 2–2.
His two goals completed a remarkable turnaround. Flamengo had appeared firmly in control, but the dismissal and two penalties changed the complexion of the match. Neither side managed to score again before the final whistle, leaving them to share the points.
Despite his decisive contribution, Neymar was cautious about using his right foot throughout the match. Having only recently recovered from the injury, he avoided taking corners and did not use his right foot for free-kicks, opting for his left instead. He also refrained from attempting long passes that might place additional strain on the affected leg.
Explaining his approach after the match, Neymar said: “Because I am returning from injury, I did not want to take the risk of playing long passes with my right foot.”
His comments highlighted the importance of managing his recovery while returning to competitive football. Although he was prepared to use his right foot for the two penalties, he remained careful in other situations. His performance offered Santos an important result without requiring him to abandon that cautious approach.
Neymar was also involved in a couple of heated exchanges during the match. He argued with Flamengo midfielder Lucas Paquetá and received a yellow card after an exchange with the referee approximately 10 minutes after coming on. Those incidents added tension to an already competitive encounter, but his contribution in front of goal ultimately proved far more significant.
Reflecting on the contest, Neymar praised the attacking intent shown by both sides.
“It was a great result. It was a great match for both teams, with each side attacking the other from beginning to end. I think these are the two best teams in Brazil,” he said.
The draw leaves Flamengo at the top of the Brazilian Serie A table with 61 points from 29 matches. Santos, meanwhile, have collected 42 points from the same number of games and sit eighth.
For Flamengo, surrendering a two-goal lead will be a disappointment, particularly after the team had controlled much of the first half. The result nevertheless preserves its position at the summit of the standings, although it brings the club’s five-match winning streak to an end.
Santos will take encouragement from their late recovery. Their immediate objective is to secure qualification for next year’s Copa Libertadores, South America’s leading club competition, and the point gained against the league leaders could prove useful in that pursuit.
For Neymar, the match represented a promising return after his injury lay-off. His two penalties demonstrated his composure under pressure and his ability to influence an important contest, even while managing his physical condition. Santos did not secure a victory, but their comeback ensured that Neymar’s first appearance since 2 September ended with a significant contribution rather than defeat.
