Young striker scores and Santos keeps Libertadores chance

Without the experienced forwards Marinho, 31, and Diego Tardelli, 36, Santos had a goal by the young Marcos Leonardo, 18, to tie with Internacional in 1-1, this Sunday, (28), in Beira-Rio, for the Championship Brazilian. The result makes Fábio Carille’s team continue with chances of qualifying for the preliminary round of the Copa Libertadores 2022.

With the tie, Santos reached 46 points and occupies the 11th position of Nacional. If Atlético-MG beat Athletico in the final of the Copa do Brasil, in a dispute that starts on December 12th, the eight best placed in the Brazilian Nationals will guarantee a place in the pre-Libertadores.

This Sunday, Marcos Leonardo was essential for Santos to continue with a chance of qualifying. In the first minute of the second half, he took advantage of a corner kick and scored for the sixth time of the season — his fourth in the Brazilian Nationals.

Highlight of the match, Marcos Leonardo still left his teammate and full-back Madson face to face with the goalkeeper, had a goal disallowed for offside and created goal opportunities with good movement in the opposing area.

Before, defender Luiz Felipe, with an own goal, left Internacional ahead in the first half controlled by the club from Rio Grande do Sul.

Against Inter, the Vila Belmiro team had two very different times. In the first, Santos had a good defensive posture, but was slow in the transition and forwards Gabriel Pirani, 19, and Marcos Leonardo were isolated.

The youngsters replaced Marinho and Tardelli, who felt muscle discomfort and were not even related to the match in Beira-Rio.

In the first 45 minutes, Vila Belmiro’s team didn’t create any clear chance of a goal — all the shots outside the area and none scared the goalkeeper Marcelo Lomba.

In the second stage, Santos’ posture was different. The team didn’t win thanks to the good performance of Lomba, who made good saves with shots from Angelo and Madson.

With poor performance in the final stage, fans of the team from Rio Grande do Sul booed the team. The full-back Moses was the main target.

At the Brazilian Nationals, Inter haven’t won in four matches — there are three defeats and one draw. The team has 48 points and occupies the ninth place.

Inter will try to recover against Atlético-GO, in Beira-Rio, on the 6th, and Red Bull Bragantino, on the 9th, away from home.

Santos will face Flamengo in the next round, on December 6th, at Maracanã. Afterwards, he will end his participation in the championship against Cuiabá, in Vila Belmiro, on the 9th.