Neymar marked his return from a thigh injury with two late penalties as Santos fought back from two goals down to draw 2–2 with Flamengo in the Brazilian Serie A. The forward, who had not played since suffering a right-thigh injury on 2 September, came off the bench in the second half and helped his side avoid defeat at the Vila Belmiro stadium.
The result brought an end to both teams’ winning runs. Santos had won seven consecutive matches before the encounter, while Flamengo arrived on the back of five successive victories. Although neither side managed to secure all three points, Neymar’s decisive contribution ensured that Santos salvaged a valuable draw after a difficult start.
Neymar was not included in 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 holding a commanding 2–0 lead.
Flamengo had taken the lead in the 43rd minute through Danilo before Lucas Paquetá doubled their advantage in first-half stoppage time. The visitors looked well placed to extend their winning streak, while Santos struggled to create clear-cut scoring opportunities despite their efforts to get back into the contest.
The turning point came late in the match when Flamengo midfielder Jorginho handled the ball inside his own penalty area. After reviewing the incident on the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system, the referee awarded Santos a penalty and sent Jorginho off. The lengthy review lasted nine minutes and 56 seconds before Neymar was able to take the spot-kick.
According to the match report, the stoppage set a record for the longest interruption caused by a VAR review since the technology was introduced in the Brazilian championship in 2019.
Neymar converted the penalty to reduce the deficit and give Santos renewed hope. Flamengo, now down to 10 players, found themselves under increasing pressure as the hosts pushed forward in search of an equaliser.
Their persistence paid off just four minutes later. Flamengo winger Luiz Araújo fouled Santos forward Gabriel Barbosa inside the penalty area, prompting the referee to award another spot-kick. Neymar once again stepped up and made no mistake, sending the ball into the net to bring the score to 2–2.
The two penalties proved decisive, transforming what had looked like a comfortable Flamengo victory into a hard-fought draw. Santos could not find a winner in the closing stages, but Neymar’s contribution secured a point that had seemed unlikely at half-time.
Despite his two goals, Neymar was careful about how he used his right foot throughout the match. Having only just recovered from the injury, he avoided situations that might place unnecessary strain on the affected leg. He did not take corners or free-kicks with his right foot, instead using his left for free-kicks. However, he struck both penalties with his right.
Speaking after the match, Neymar explained his cautious approach: “Because I am returning from injury, I did not want to take the risk of playing long passes with my right foot.”
His decision reflected the need to balance his competitive instincts with caution during his first appearance after the lay-off. While he was involved in an on-field disagreement with Flamengo midfielder Lucas Paquetá, Neymar also received a yellow card after an exchange with the referee approximately 10 minutes after coming on as a substitute.
Nevertheless, his most significant contribution came when Santos needed him most. His composure from the penalty spot demonstrated his ability to influence a match even while managing his return to full fitness.
Neymar was also complimentary about the quality of the contest, praising both sides for their attacking approach throughout the game.
“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 42 points from the same number of games and occupy eighth place.
For Santos, the immediate priority remains securing a position that would qualify them for next year’s Copa Libertadores, South America’s leading club competition. Every point could prove important as the campaign progresses.
Flamengo will be disappointed to have surrendered a two-goal advantage, particularly after controlling much of the first half. The dismissal of Jorginho and the two penalties changed the course of the match, denying the league leaders another victory.
For Neymar, however, the evening offered an encouraging return to competitive action. He will still need to manage his recovery carefully, but scoring twice against one of the league’s strongest sides was a significant contribution. His goals not only prevented a defeat for Santos but also brought an end to both teams’ impressive winning streaks.
