Author: Vishwajit Sawant
On a captivating night in the Brasileirão, Corinthians and Gremio drew 4-4, while Santos pulled off an incredible late comeback to beat Bahia 2-1 in a thrilling encounter.
Corinthians – Grêmio – 4:4
This matchday 15 game wasn’t played in mid-July, but it was worth the wait. In a thrilling and action-packed match at the Neo Química Arena, Corinthians and Grêmio drew 4-4, providing fans with a rollercoaster of emotions. It’s worth noting that this is the most productive match in the current championship.
Grêmio took the lead early on with goals from Nathan and Cristaldo, asserting their dominance. However, the tide quickly turned when Corinthians made a remarkable comeback before the break. The referee added six minutes and… Fabio Santos, from the penalty spot (45), Lucas Verissimo (45+5) and Yuri Alberto (45+6) scored for Corinthians, turning a 2-0 deficit into a 3-2 lead!
The second half continued to be exciting, with Everton Galdino equalizing for Grêmio in the 51st minute – 3-3. Then, in a moment of nostalgia, Uruguayan star Luis Suárez, who had shone at Itaquera during the 2014 World Cup, scored a sensational goal in the 59th minute to put Grêmio 4-3 ahead.
But Corinthians weren’t finished yet, as substitute Giuliano leveled the score again in the 68th minute – 4-4. The match ended in a thrilling draw, leaving both teams in their respective positions, with Corinthians in 14th place and Grêmio in 3rd.
The match also marked the reunion of midfielder Luan with the Corinthians fans, albeit to a chorus of booing. It was a night of incredible goals, drama and a memorable clash in the Campeonato Brasileiro, leaving fans eager for more thrills in the coming rounds.
Bahia – Santos – 1:2
On the same day, the first match of the new 24th round of the championship was played. The game was Bahia coach Rogério Ceni’s debut and brought moments of tension and an unexpected twist at the end that delighted the Santos fans.
The first half was a tale of two halves. Santos started with a surprising attack, creating several chances in the first few minutes, including a shot from Lucas Lima that hit the crossbar. However, Bahia gradually found their rhythm and began to threaten the Santos goal.
The second half continued at a fast pace, with both teams pressing in search of the first goal. Bahia were the first to score, with a precise goal from Camilo Cândido in the 14th minute.
Just when it looked like Bahia were in control, Santos managed to turn the game around. In the 27th minute, a well-executed move involving Soteldo and Marcos Leonardo resulted in Marcos Leonardo scoring the equalizer with a header. Bahia were stunned and Santos seized the opportunity.
In dramatic fashion, Santos managed to turn the game around in injury time. Jean Lucas delivered a precise ball, and Julio Furch scored with a header, sealing Santos’ 2-1 victory.
This crucial achievement took Santos to 24 points, putting them in 17th place in the league, but now with renewed hope of escaping the relegation zone. Bahia, with 25 points, currently occupy 15th place, but are in danger of falling further down the table as the 23rd round of the Brazilian Championship unfolds.
Both teams are looking ahead to their next games, with Bahia facing Flamengo in 12 days’ time, while Santos host Vasco a day later. The thrilling contest between Santos and Bahia will undoubtedly be remembered as a decisive moment in the 2023 Brasileirão season.