Brazilian forward Neymar Jr. marked his return from a month-long thigh injury with a second-half double as Santos clawed back from two goals down to hold Serie A leaders Flamengo to a 2-2 draw.
Playing at the Vila Belmiro on Friday (October 9, 2026), Santos found themselves trailing 2-0 at halftime following goals from Danilo in the 43rd minute and Lucas Paquetá in first-half stoppage time.
Coming on after the break to replace Philippe Coutinho, Neymar—who had been sidelined for six matches after suffering a right thigh muscle tear against Palmeiras on September 2—transformed Santos' attacking rhythm. The match turned in the 79th minute when Flamengo was reduced to ten men following a red card for Jorginho.
Capitalizing on the numerical advantage, Neymar converted two spot-kicks in the 82nd and 88th minutes to secure a point for Santos. The draw halts a five-match winning streak for both clubs, leaving Santos in 8th place with 42 points, while Flamengo remains atop the Serie A standings with 61 points, holding a slim one-point lead over second-placed Palmeiras.
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Reported by Sports Desk • Edited by the Daily Best News desk. Send corrections to [email protected].
