Wetin happen for Vila Belmiro yesterday night na serious gist wey make many people shock. Santos FC dey celebrate their 114 years as club, dem plan big party with Neymar Jr. and Gabigol for front, but Recoleta FC from Paraguay come spoil market with 1-1 draw. The match wey be for Copa Sudamericana 2026 Group D second round don show say underdog fit shake big team any day.
Before the match start, everybody dey talk say Santos go win am easily. Dem get star players like Neymar Jr. and Gabriel Barbosa wey dem call Gabigol. Even the club sef dey tweet say “VAI PRA CIMA DELES, SANTOS!” meaning make dem hammer the visitors. But Recoleta FC, wey dem call ‘Funebrero’, no gree hear word. This na their first time for international competition, but dem show say dem no dey fear anybody.
The match referee na Fernando Véjar from Chile. From beginning, Santos dey press Recoleta well well. Neymar dey try shots, Gabigol dey run up and down, but Recoleta goalkeeper Oscar Toledo block everything wey come him way. The man save like say him hand get glue. First half end 0-0, and Santos fans begin dey worry small.
Second half start, and things change quick quick. For 12 minutes, Santos defender Luan Peres Petroni commit foul inside box. Referee blow whistle for penalty. Richard Ortiz from Recoleta step up, take the kick, and score! 1-0 for the visitors. Vila Belmiro stadium just quiet like cemetery.
But Santos no gree give up. With Neymar leading the attack, dem finally score equalizer. Gabigol give assist, Neymar collect ball, and bang! Goal! 1-1. The celebration for stadium loud like thunder. But after that goal, Santos no fit score again.
Recoleta defenders like Oscar Toledo, Luis Cardozo, and Marcos Pereira block every shot wey come. Neymar try corner kicks many times, but nothing enter net. The match end 1-1, and Recoleta players celebrate like say dem win trophy. For Santos side, the 114th birthday celebration don turn to something else.
This match na first international game for Santos inside Vila Belmiro for three years. The last time dem play for home for continental competition na June 29, 2023 against Blooming from Bolivia. That match end 0-0, and fans boo the players that time. Now this draw with Recoleta go make fans remember that bad memory again.
For other news from Copa Sudamericana, two Paraguay players make Team of the Week for first round. Rubén Lezcano from Olimpia score goal against Audax Italiano for Chile. Damián Bobadilla from Sao Paulo score winning goal against Boston River for Uruguay. Olimpia na only Paraguay team wey win away match for first round, beating Audax Italiano 2-0 with goals from Rubén Lezcano and Juan Fernando Alfaro.
Santos coach Cuca and Recoleta coach Jorge González both talk say their teams try well. But the truth be say Recoleta come with better plan. Dem no allow Santos star players to shine. Neymar get yellow card, Gabigol offside many times, and Santos midfield no connect well.
The match show say for football, anything fit happen. Big name no guarantee win. Recoleta FC wey be new team for international competition don prove say dem fit compete with big boys. For Santos, dem need to wake up if dem want qualify from Group D. Next match go show which team serious.
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