Santos Vs Vasco Da Gama: Neymar decide com golaço e Peixe vence sob dilúvio na Vila Belmiro
In a tense santos vs vasco da gama played at Vila Belmiro under heavy rain, Neymar scored twice — including a second-half golaço — to give Santos a 2-1 victory and the club its first win in the Brasileirão. The result lifted Juan Pablo Vojvoda's side off the bottom of the table and pushed Vasco da Gama down to last place.
Santos Vs Vasco Da Gama — match essentials
The game, held in the fourth round of the Campeonato Brasileiro and scheduled for Thursday at 19h (Brasília), ended 2-1 for Santos. Neymar opened the scoring and later sealed the win with a chipped golaço in the second half. Barros had leveled for Vasco before halftime. The win left Santos 13th after the fourth round with 4 points; Vasco fell to the bottom with 1 point.
Key moments and goals
The match began hotly, with a big chance for each side before the 10-minute mark: Santos escaped after a surge led by Gabriel Bontempo but Moisés failed with the final pass; Vasco threatened through Nuno Moreira, whose effort was saved by Gabriel Brazão inside the area.
Neymar broke the deadlock at 24 minutes. In a counterattack initiated by Bontempo, Neymar made a pivot, set play in motion and moved toward the left flank. Moisés took on Barros and, instead of shooting, returned the ball to Neymar, who finished first-time to beat Léo Jardim. That strike was Neymar's first goal of 2026.
Vasco equalized shortly before the break after a defensive mistake by Miguelito. The Bolivian miscontrolled the ball, was dispossessed by Lucas Piton and failed to recover; Andrés Gómez delivered a low cross that Barros converted into an empty net.
Early in the second half, under a downpour at Vila Belmiro, Neymar and Thiago Mendes clashed again while fighting for space near the sideline. The two had been involved in a prior incident that caused an injury in 2020; after heated words with the ball still in play the referee booked both players. Neymar later claimed he was hit and the referee paused play to intervene.
Neymar completed his brace with a delicate cavadinha that sealed the 2-1 final score. After his first goal he had celebrated by dancing beside the corner flag.
Discipline, officials and controversies
Referee Rafael Rodrigo Klein handled the match and issued yellow cards to both Neymar and Thiago Mendes following their altercations. The full officiating team named for the game included assistants Rafael da Silva Alves and Maira Mastella Moreira, fourth official Iudiney Cesar Rocha E Silva and VAR Rodrigo D'Alonso Ferreira.
During the contest Neymar had earlier contested calls, asking in vain for two fouls to be awarded by referee Rafael Rodrigo Klein. At halftime Neymar also criticized Thiago Mendes in strong terms to a broadcaster, calling him a provocateur and referencing a past injury and a promise tied to their previous encounter.
Lineups, coaching changes and squad notes
Leading into the match, Juan Pablo Vojvoda had the full Santos squad available and was expected to field Neymar alongside Gabriel Barbosa as starters. The probable Santos setup listed Gabriel Brazão in goal; Igor Vinicius, Adonis Frías, Luan Peres and Escobar across the back; Willian Arão, Gabriel Menino, Gabriel Bontempo (Miguelito) and Neymar in midfield; and Rony with Gabriel Barbosa up front. No absences or suspended players were noted for Santos.
Vasco arrived amid turbulence after the dismissal of Fernando Diniz; Bruno Lazaroni took interim charge. The club had suffered a defeat in the first leg of the Carioca semifinal and entered the national competition under pressure. Probable Vasco names included Léo Jardim; Paulo Henrique, Saldivia, Robert Renan and Lucas Piton in defense; Barros, Thiago Mendes and Rojas in midfield; and Andrés Gómez, Spinelli and Marino Hinestroza (with Nuno Moreira as an alternative) in attack. Cuesta and Jair were out for Vasco due to medical reasons.
Impact and what comes next
The victory gives Santos breathing room in the immediate table and ends a run of poor domestic form that followed a state championship exit. Santos and Vasco return to Brasileirão action in two weeks: Santos will travel to face Mirassol in the interior of São Paulo on the 10th, while Vasco will host Palmeiras two days later in Rio de Janeiro. Before those fixtures, Vasco has a domestic state semifinal clash against Fluminense this Sunday.
Fans will also be invited to rate performances from this match through the Troféu NETVASCO 2026 campaign, which asks supporters to assign grades to the players and to the coach in the Santos x Vasco encounter.
All match details and listed lineups reflect the information available in the match coverage and pre-match notes; some items, such as final selections on the day, were described as probable or expected.
