Santos secured their spot in the Campeonato Paulista quarterfinals with a commanding 3-0 victory over Inter de Limeira on Sunday.
The match, held at Estádio Major José Levy Sobrinho in Limeira, São Paulo, showcased Neymar’s brilliance as he delivered a standout performance. The star midfielder not only scored a rare gol olímpico but also provided two assists, cementing his status as the game’s central figure.
Neymar’s contributions electrified the crowd, earning applause even from rival fans. His name echoed through the stadium as he completed a full 90 minutes for the first time this season.
The victory allowed Santos to finish the group stage atop Group B with 18 points, narrowly edging out Red Bull Bragantino, who also advanced with 17 points. Meanwhile, Guarani and Portuguesa rounded out the group with 13 points each.
The loss sealed Inter de Limeira’s fate, relegating them to Série A2 after finishing last in both Group A and the overall standings with just seven points.
Santos will now face Red Bull Bragantino in the quarterfinals, with the exact date to be confirmed by the Federação Paulista de Futebol. The match began with urgency from Inter de Limeira, desperate to avoid relegation.
Dominant Display Secures Santos Victory
Within two minutes, Ruan Ribeiro found himself one-on-one with Santos goalkeeper João Paulo, who made a crucial save. Santos quickly responded as Zé Ivaldo’s long-range shot grazed the post, and Neymar set up Guilherme for a chance that was denied by Inter’s goalkeeper.
The breakthrough came in the eighth minute when Neymar’s precise corner kick found Tiquinho Soares, who headed it into the net. By the 26th minute, Neymar doubled Santos’ lead with a stunning *gol olímpico*, curling a corner kick directly into the goal.
Minutes later, another Neymar corner resulted in Tiquinho scoring his second header of the match. In the second half, Inter attempted to mount a comeback but struggled against Santos’ solid defense and João Paulo’s goalkeeping.
Santos controlled possession and maintained their lead as the game slowed down. Escobar nearly added another for Santos with a powerful shot off the crossbar.
The final whistle confirmed Santos’ dominant win and Inter de Limeira’s relegation. All eyes now turn to their quarterfinal clash against Bragantino as Santos seeks to extend their Paulista campaign.