Neymar-inspired Santos draw first blood in final
May 7th, 2012 - 3:56 pm ICT by IANSRio de Janeiro, May 7 (IANS) Two goals from Neymar and one from Paulo Henrique Ganso gave Santos a 3-0 victory over Guarani in the first leg of Brazil’s Campeonato Paulista football final.
Ganso opened the scoring in the 42nd minute at Sao Paulo’s Morumbi stadium Sunday with a thunderous first-time strike from outside the area.
The Brazil No.10 looked set to double Santos’ lead when he dribbled goal wards only to lose possession while trying to round goalkeeper Emerson. Ganso’s national teammate Neymar ran onto the loose ball and fired a low shot into an empty net to make it 2-0.
Neymar then sealed the result with an 18m drive in injury time - his fifth goal in the last two matches.
Guarani needs to score at least three goals in next Sunday’s second leg to take the championship decider into extra-time.
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- Ganso scores twice as Santos thrash Catanduvense - Apr 16, 2012
- Corinthians shock Santos in Libertadores semis - Jun 14, 2012
- Santos slam Ponte Preta 6-1 in Sao Paulo state championship - Feb 26, 2012
- Santos' seven-game winning streak ends - Mar 11, 2012
- Ronaldinho's Atletico falters, Vasco stays top - Jun 18, 2012
- Neymar scores 100th career goal on birthday - Feb 06, 2012
- Santos equal record to cruise into Copa Libertadores quarter-finals - May 11, 2012
- Brazil releases Neymar, Ganso for Libertadores quarter-final - May 15, 2012
- Felipe brace sends Vasco da Gama into Rio Cup final - Apr 23, 2012
- Sao Paulo win thriller against Santos - Mar 19, 2012
- Striker Fabiano recalled to Brazil squad - Sep 12, 2012
- Corinthians come from behind, Santos draw in season opener - Jan 22, 2012
- Neymar ensures Santos victory over Flamengo - Sep 13, 2012
- Ronaldinho dropped from Brazil Olympic probables - Jun 08, 2012
Tags: campeonato paulista, decider, emerson, extra time, fifth goal, first blood, ganso, guarani, injury time, loose ball, morumbi stadium, neymar, paulo henrique, possession, rio de janeiro, sao paulo, teammate, time strike, victory, wards