Santos FC won the first leg of the CONMEBOL Sudamericana against CD Macará at Vila Belmiro by 2-1. This Thursday’s (13) victory came from behind, with the goals scored by Gabriel Barbosa and Willian Arão. Peixe will face Macará again in Ecuador for the return leg on the 20th. In the Brazilian Championship, Santos FC will return to the pitch on Sunday (16) against Vasco at São Januário.
Just two minutes in, Neymar Jr. took a free kick on the visiting team’s goal. Goalkeeper Rodrigo Rodriguez parried the ball away, and it went out for a corner.
Macará opened the scoring in the third minute, with a goal by Posse.
Santos FC threatened again in the 42nd minute from a corner kick. The ball was sent into the box, and Willian Arão rose to head it, but it ended up in the goalkeeper’s hands.
Shortly after, the equalizer came. In the minute following Arão’s chance, Neymar Jr. provided a brilliant assist for Gabriel Barbosa. The Menino da Vila finished clinically, found the net, and scored his 100th goal in a Santos FC shirt.
In the second half, in the 18th minute, Peixe threatened the goal again. Schmidt received a low cross in the box and fired — the goalkeeper saved it, Barreal went for the rebound, and the ball was stopped once again by Rodrigo Rodriguez.
In the 30th minute, from a Neymar Jr. corner kick, the comeback was completed. The ball rose at the near post, and Arão redirected it into the net. This time, there was nothing the opposing goalkeeper could do, as he had to pick the ball out from the back of his goal.
In the final play of the match, Neymar Jr. caused more danger for the opponent’s goal. The number 10 took a free kick and forced a save from the visiting team’s goalkeeper. The keeper made the stop, but the referee soon blew the final whistle and sealed Santos’s victory.
CONMEBOL Sudamericana – Round of 16
Santos FC 2-1 CD Macará
Venue: Estádio Urbano Caldeira, in Santos (SP)Date: Thursday, August 13, 2026Time: 7:00 p.m.Attendance: 10,257 paidGate: R$ 525,353.75Referee: Kevin Ortega (PER)Assistant referees: Michael Orue (PER) and Jesus Sanchez (PER)Video assistant referee: Joel Alarcon (PER)Yellow cards: (SFC) Escobar, Barreal and Gabriel Barbosa (CDM) Ayala, Cazares, Bolaños, Rodrigo Rodriguez and Mohor
GOALS:
SFC: Gabriel Barbosa, 43’ 1st half, and Willian Arão, 30’ 2nd half.CDM: Posse, 3’ 1st half;
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.