Neymar Steals The Show And Palmeiras Defeats Fluminense

Forbes

4 days ago

Neymar was the star of the show a week ago against Flamengo, but he argued with fans and had a late ... More equaliser disallowed against Internacional on Wednesday.
It's been another rollercoaster midweek of Brazilian Série A action. Neymar is the centre of attention in Santos, Flamengo and Palmeiras close the gap on first place Cruzeiro and Club World Cup hero Fluminense loses again.
Neymar Shock In Santos Defeat
Santos lost 2-1 at home to Internacional on Wednesday night. This result follows a weekend defeat at Mirassol as Santos return to the relegation zone, just days after a massive win at home against Flamengo.
Neymar scored a late winner in that victory over Flamengo, and he nearly scored a late equaliser for Santos last night. Inter goalkeeper Sergio Rochet parried Neymar's late left-footed strike onto the post, and the ball rolled across the goal line. Rochet recovered just in time to keep the ball out, snatching it off the line and keeping Inter ahead.
Meanwhile Neymar was already running down the line to celebrate. He kicked the corner flag into two pieces for good measure. Perhaps Neymar hoped that celebrating hard and fast enough would convince the officials to ignore the fact that the ball clearly didn't cross the line.
After the 2-1 defeat Neymar completed a crazy week by arguing with a few of the home fans. Neymar approached the touchline, received some abuse from Santos fans, and gave some back. Expletives were exchanged until Neymar decided to walk away after another rollercoaster matchday for the Brazilian superstar.
Palmeiras Wins, Fluminense Struggles
Palmeiras and Flamengo both won away from home on Wednesday night to close the gap on league leader Cruzeiro. Flamengo is one point behind Cruzeiro with a game in hand, and Palmeiras is five points behind Cruzeiro with two games in hand. The title race is heating up.
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - JULY 23: Vitor Roque of Palmeiras (L) celebrates with Maurício of Palmeiras ... More (R) after scoring the team's second goal during the Brasileirao 2025 match between Fluminense and Palmeiras at Maracana Stadium on July 23, 2025 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Andre Ricardo/Sports)
Palmeiras defeated Fluminense away from home by a 2-1 scoreline. This was Fluminense's third defeat in a week. Fans heckled the team and sang against the club hierarchy despite 'Flu' returning home from the FIFA 2025 Club World Cup as heroes just over a week ago. Brazilian football proves it has no mercy once again. Even Palmeiras coach Abel Ferreira said the Fluminense fans reacted unfairly in his post-match press conference.
Wesley Strikes Late For Flamengo
Flamengo won 2-1 away at RB Bragantino. Wesley scored the winning goal in the 85th minute in what might be his last game for the club. Fabrizio Romano has reported that the talented right-back is just 'a matter of time' away from moving to Italian side AS Roma.
BRAGANCA PAULISTA, BRAZIL - JULY 23: Wesley of Flamengo controls the ball ion front of Lucas Barbosa ... More of Red Bull Bragantino during the Brasileirao 2025 match between Red Bull Bragantino and Flamengo at Estadio Municipal Cicero De Souza Marques on July 23, 2025 in Braganca Paulista, Brazil. (Photo by)
Cruzeiro dropped points in a 0-0 draw away to Corinthians and now has Flamengo too close for comfort in the title race. The side from Belo Horizonte couldn't make it four league wins in a row. A dull match saw both teams struggle to create chances, with neither managing even one expected goal.
Elsewhere In Brazil
Some of the biggest headlines come from the 'smaller teams' in Brazil this midweek. Mirassol has moved up to seventh in the table and made it seven games undefeated. An impressive return for a team that was playing in the second division last year. Mirassol defeated Ceará 2-0 away last night after smashing Santos 3-0 at home this weekend.
Sport, who is rock-bottom of the league, picked up just their fourth point of the season last night. Late drama filled this 2-2 draw away to Vitória.. Sport made it 1-1 in 89th minute, Vitória thought they won the game with another goal in the 94th, but miraculously, Sport struck again when Romarinho scored a second equaliser in the 99th minute. The 31 year-old came off the bench to score both goals for the visitors.