A Santos already classified came back on Tuesday in injury time with a goal from Marcos Leonardo, 17, and eliminated an Argentine Defense and Justice who lost his ticket to the round of 16 by 2-1 in the final stretch of the match , on the last day of group G of the Copa Libertadores.
The team led by Hernán Crespo stayed at the gates of the next round of the tournament, with six points, surpassed by the Ecuadorian Dolphin, which closed the phase with seven units after beating Paraguayan Olimpia 0-1.
The Argentine team lowered their arms at the end of the match despite going ahead on the scoreboard with Braian Romero's goal in the 51st minute, but Lucas Braga canceled the difference in the 78th minute and Marcos Leonardo finished off in the 91st minute. dock.
On the eve of Edson Arantes do Nascimento 'Pelé's 80th birthday, the Albinegro side got the three points, suffering, despite the mistakes of Kaio Jorge and Arthur Gomes, two promising youngsters who missed countless opportunities.
Santos finish the group stage undefeated with five wins and a single draw that could leave them as the best team in the group stage, depending on what Palmeiras do at B.
High pressure was the starting strategy to surprise the Argentines. In the attack he had speed to spare with two wingers like the Venezuelan Yeferson Soteldo and the Brazilian Arthur Gomes, and Kaio Jorge, world champion with the Canarinha Sub'17, at the top.
The three were the channel for the Albinegro game and the main threat to Crespo's men, who knew how to wait behind despite the need for the three points.
In the third minute, Kaio Jorge, 18, already sent the first warning. Then it would be the turn of an unfortunate Arthur Gomes, who twice fired into the air on very clear opportunities to release the score. He also missed a terrible exit of the ball by the Argentines that left him alone on the balcony of the area.
Defense and Justice was very serious in defense. The central defender Adonis Frías starred in a gladiatorial duel with Kaio Jorge, whom at times he despaired due to his close marking.
Although he did not completely give up the attack either. As the minutes passed, Crespo's painting found more spaces. Hachen forced Joao Paulo to stretch with a very strong shot from outside the area. In the next corner, a nap by the Santista rear almost did not end in disgrace.
Santos then changed the script of the first minutes.
He gave up some ground and bet on the backlash. In one of those gallops into space, Kaio Jorge gave a measured pass to Soteldo, but the Venezuelan slipped just as he was going to finish and missed the rival goal. Another clear opportunity missed.
At the resumption, coach 'Cuca' moved the bench and brought in another young man, 19-year-old midfielder Lucas Lourenço. The team did not improve, rather the opposite.
The team started pushing higher and very soon reaped the rewards. Pizzini progressed down the right side and crossed for Romero, who only had to put his boot on to score the goal.
Santos reacted quickly, although with wet powder. Kaio Jorge missed two shots inside the small area. The first was a header that he sent over the crossbar and in the second he did not hit the ball correctly.
However, Santos persisted and found the recipe for the comeback on the bench with goals from Lucas Braga and Marcos Leonardo when Defensa y Justicia already had half a round of 16 in their pocket.
2. Santos: Joao Paulo; Pará (m.82, Marcos Leonardo), Luiz Felipe, Luan Peres, Felipe Jonatan (m.74, Wagner); Jobson (m.57, Sandry), Diego Pituca, Jean Mota (m.46, Lucas Lourenço); Arthur Gomes (m.57, Lucas Braga), Kaio Jorge and Yeferson Soteldo.
Coach: Cuca.
1. Defense and Justice: Ezequiel Unsain; Adonis Frías, Franco Paredes (m.94, Nicolás Leguizamón), Héctor Martínez; Ciro Rius, Enzo Fernández (d.78, Nelson Acevedo), Marcelo Benítez, Eugenio Isnaldo; Brian Romero, Francisco Pizzini (m.69, Washington Camacho) and Gabriel Hachen (m.78, Miguel Merentiel).
Coach: Hernán Crespo.
Goals: 0-1, m.51: Braian Romero. 1-1, m.78: Lucas Braga. 2-1, m.91: Marcos Leonardo.
Referee: Uruguayan Leodán González. He admonished Romero, Robson, Martínez, Braga, Evaristo and Wagner.
Incidents: match of the sixth day of group G of the Copa Libertadores, played at the Vila Belmiro stadium, in Santos.