Santos held 1-1 by Mirrassol. Image credit: Santos FC via X
(The Post News)- Santos FC relegation battle grew tense on Wednesday. Despite Neymar producing both the moment of brilliance and the moment of heartbreak that defined the match. They were held to a 1–1 draw by Mirassol at Vila Belmiro.
The result leaves Santos perched perilously close to the drop zone. Sitting 16th on the Brasileirao Serie A table with 37 points from 34 matches. Just one point clear of danger with four rounds remaining.
The home crowd barely had time to settle into their seats before Neymar delivered a flash of vintage brilliance. Four minutes in, the 32-year-old forward timed a perfectly angled run behind the Mirassol defence. Collected a clipped through-ball and coolly slotted home his seventh goal of the season.
It was a long-awaited moment for Neymar, who had not scored since August 5. He struggled with rhythm and lingering fitness concerns. The goal injected belief and energy into a Santos side desperate for points.
Even as he battled visible thigh discomfort. Neymar pushed through the full 90 minutes, repeatedly dropping deep to link play and attempting to drive the team forward.
But the night took a dramatic turn in the 57th minute. A seemingly innocuous defensive sequence involving Neymar was re-examined by VAR. Which spotted an accidental clip on a Mirassol attacker inside the box. After a lengthy review, the referee pointed to the spot.
Reinaldo stepped up confidently and struck the equaliser. Silencing the home fans as Mirassol currently fourth in the table tightened their grip on a potential continental qualification spot. Santos responded with urgency. Jefferson, Morelos, and Neymar all pushed forward in search of a late winner. Mirassol’s defensive structure held strong and Santos were forced to settle for a single point.
With just four matches left, Santos’ margin for error is shrinking rapidly. The draw piles pressure on upcoming fixtures. Each of which could decide whether the club preserves its top-flight status or suffers a historic drop. Santos’ survival hopes now hang in the balance. The coming weeks promise drama, tension, and a fight to the final whistle.
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