Leb by Brazilian legend Neymar, Eantos, have escaped relegation to the second division, after earning a convincing 3–0 victory over Cruzeiro on the last day of the Brazilian league season.
Finally, Santos can breathe easy, climbing to 13th place in the table with 47 points thanks to a brace from Thaciano and a goal from João Schmidt, after spending nearly the entire campaign on the brink.
With relegation looming large shortly a year after returning to the top tier, Neymar’s team delivered a tough performance at Vila Belmiro, which was packed to the brim with Santos supporters.
Cruzeiro, who finished the league in third position, were not able to contain Santos’ momentum as the home side dominated possession from the opening whistle.
The Belo Horizonte club showed signs of life only in the second half with a goal that was ultimately ruled out for offside.
Neymar, still dealing with a meniscus injury, refused to miss such a decisive match and fired several shots toward the Cruzeiro goal, though he was unable to score the much-anticipated strike.
Despite the series of injuries he has faced since rejoining the club where he first rose to prominence, the No. 10 has been pivotal in Santos’ last two matches.
He has bagged one assist and four goals—half of his total haul for the league—which delivered six crucial points.
The 33-year-old forward was honored before kickoff for reaching 150 goals with Santos, though he has yet to announce his plans for next season.
