Santos FC beat Fluminense 2–1 on Sunday (18) in Round 31 of the Brazilian Championship at the Maracanã. Santos came from behind to win with goals from Gabriel Barbosa and Coutinho. The result took Peixe to 45 points in the competition, putting them eighth in the table for now. The Club’s next match is next Saturday (24), against Bahia at Vila Belmiro.
Peixe fell behind early on. In the third minute, Castillo scored for Fluminense to open the scoring.
In the 27th minute, Lucas Veríssimo quickly linked up with the attack, sending a ball through to Gabriel Barbosa. The striker headed toward goal and, inside the box, passed to Cebolinha, who shot into the side netting.
Near the end of the first half, Santos FC threatened again after winning back possession, with Coutinho passing to Neymar Jr. The Santos star aimed a placed shot into the corner, but Fábio made the save.
But the tide turned early in the second half. Just four minutes in, Peixe built a move through Neymar Jr., who passed to Rodinei. His first-time layoff found Gabriel Barbosa facing goal. The Santos striker finished clinically with his left foot, sending the ball into the net to level the score.
Santos FC needed just four more minutes to score their second. Gabriel Barbosa played an excellent through ball to Neymar Jr. in the box, where he was brought down. Gabriel Bontempo then picked up the ball and crossed for Coutinho, who headed home his first goal for the Club to turn the match around.
In the 36th minute, Peixe had another chance when Gabriel Barbosa once again found Neymar Jr. in the box. The number ten fired a low shot toward the left corner, but the ball hit the post. Goalkeeper Fábio turned Rony’s follow-up behind for a corner.
Santos kept attacking. In the 42nd minute, Rollheiser received a pass from Gabriel Barbosa and unleashed a fierce left-footed shot, forcing another save from the opposing goalkeeper.
Brazilian Championship Round 31Fluminense FC 1–2 Santos FC
Venue: Estádio Jornalista Mário Filho, Rio de Janeiro (RJ)Date: Sunday, October 18, 2026Kickoff: 4 p.m.Attendance: 27,697 paying spectatorsGate receipts: R$ 1,658,380.50 Referee: Ramon Abatti Abel (SC)Assistant referees: Gizeli Casaril (SC) and Thiaggo Americano Labes (SC)Video assistant referee: Marco Aurélio Augusto Fazekas Ferreira (MG)Yellow cards: (FFC) Canobbio and Savarino (SFC) Barreal
GOALS:
FFC: Castillo, 3′, first half;SFC: Gabriel Barbosa, 4′, second half, and Coutinho, 8′, second half;
FFC: Fábio; Samuel Xavier, Ignácio, Igor Rabello and Renê; Hércules, Nonato (Serna) and Acosta; Canobbio (Wesley Natã), Soteldo (Savarino) and Castillo (Hulk). Coach: Marcão.
SFC: Diógenes; Rodinei, Lucas Verissimo (João Alencar), Luan Peres and Barreal (Rollheiser); Gustavo Henrique, Coutinho (Rony) and Gabriel Bontempo; Neymar Jr. (Rafael Gonzaga), Everton (Oliva) and Gabriel Barbosa. Coach: Cuca.
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