Paulista: Santos falls in the group stage for the 3rd year in a row – 05/03/2023 – Sport

Santos is out of the quarterfinals of the Campeonato Paulista for the third consecutive year. The alvinegro team was again on the way when it was run over this Sunday (5) by Ituano, 3-0, away from home, in the 12th and last round of the group stage.

After getting rid of the risk of relegation to the State A2 Series only in the 10th round, two weeks ago, coach Odair Hellmann’s team still had hopes of going forward in the competition.

For that, however, Santos needed a good result in Itu, in addition to a stumbling block by Botafogo-SP against São Paulo, in Ribeirão Preto. The capital’s tricolor team won in Ribeirão, but the beach white team did not do its part.

With the final combination of results, Red Bull Bragantino took first place in Group A and Botafogo-SP advanced in second place. Santos finished third, with a 38% advantage (3 wins, 5 draws and 4 losses).

The outcome aggravates a long fast amid distrust and protests. The crowd began to leave the Novelli Júnior stadium this Sunday at 25 minutes into the second half, after the third goal conceded. Santos who remained in the stands booed the team and the club’s president, Andrés Rueda.

The last time Santos reached the quarterfinals of the State was in 2020, when it fell right at this stage, in front of Ponte Preta. In the following editions, the risk of relegation was greater than the possibility of lifting the trophy.

The previous year, the alvinegra team had reached the semifinals, lost to Corinthians. The most recent decision and title came in 2016 against Audax.

The trophy drought experienced since then contrasts with the club’s history in the tournament. Santos is the third biggest winner of the State, alongside São Paulo, with 22 cups, behind Corinthians (30) and Palmeiras (24).

This season, Odair Hellmann’s team came from four games without losing, with draws with Santo André and Corinthians and victory over Portuguesa, in Paulista, in addition to triumph over Ceilândia-DF in the Copa do Brasil.

The team, however, reached the decisive duel against Ituano with the important absence of strikers Marcos Leonardo, suspended, and Ângelo, injured. On the pitch, they offered little resistance and were beaten 3-0, with goals from Claudinho, Gabriel Barros and Quirino.