Flamengo 3-1 Santos Player Ratings: Jorginho 8.5/10 Penalty Inspires Flamengo Comeback as Santos Crumble Without Neymar

Santos arrived at the Maracana with a game plan and the confidence to execute it, and for the opening hour, it was working. A goalless first half gave way to a sucker punch three minutes after the restart, when Lautaro Diaz picked up Oliva's precise pass and drilled a stunning long-range finish into the top-right corner that silenced the home crowd and gave the visitors a lead that looked increasingly ominous.

Flamengo refused to fold. A VAR-disallowed Ortiz goal added further frustration, but Pedro's powerful close-range header in the 64th minute drew them level and completely shifted the energy inside the stadium. Santos FC, already missing Neymar's creative spark, had no answer to what followed.

Jorginho stepped up to convert a composed penalty in the 71st minute, and Paqueta's stunning long-range curler in the 89th minute completed a comeback that the second-half display had thoroughly deserved, leaving Santos to reflect on another painful evening without their talisman. Here are Sportsdunia Flamengo vs Santos player ratings.

Key Takeaways

• Jorginho was Flamengo's most composed and influential performer, his penalty dispatched with ice-cold authority in the 71st minute proved the decisive turning point that gave Flamengo control of a tie Santos had led for over 20 minutes.
• Santos' inability to hold their lead without Neymar's creative influence told the full story, once Flamengo drew level, the visitors completely lost their defensive shape and their ability to threaten on the counter in equal measure.
• Paqueta's stunning 89th-minute curler into the top-left corner was the defining moment that sealed a comeback victory and gave the final score line the emphatic look that Flamengo's second-half dominance had thoroughly deserved.

Flamengo Player Ratings vs Santos

Here are the Flamengo player ratings for the Flamengo vs Santos fixture.

Goalkeeper

Agustín Rossi - 6.5: It was a tricky night for the keeper. He couldn't have done much about the superb strike from Díaz. We noticed he made one key save and his distribution was solid enough. He wasn't tested much otherwise. An average performance in a game of two halves.

Defenders

Guillermo Varela - 7.0: He was a bundle of energy down the right flank. What stood out to us was his desire to get forward, creating a big chance. He also had a big chance himself, which he missed. His crossing was a bit hit-or-miss, but defensively, he held his own.

Léo Ortiz - 7.5: A very solid performance from the central defender. He thought he had scored the equalizer only for VAR to cruelly deny him. His passing from the back was impressively accurate, helping launch attacks. He made some vital blocks when Santos were pressing.

Léo Pereira - 7.0: We thought he was a rock at the back for Flamengo. He dominated his aerial duels and made a team-high six clearances. He even looked dangerous on set-pieces. A really commanding display from the defender.

Ayrton Lucas - 6.5: A relatively quiet game for him by his usual high standards. He was defensively sound, making five clearances. However, from our perspective, his attacking contribution was limited. He tested the keeper once from distance, but didn't create much.

Midfielders

Giorgian de Arrascaeta - 7.5: The captain was pivotal in the comeback. His creativity was on full display, and he was a constant thorn in Santos' side. He showed his experience and intelligence to win the game-changing penalty. A true leader's performance is when his team needs him.

Jorge Carrascal - 7.0: A dynamic and all-action display in midfield. He recovered the ball five times and was always looking to drive his team forward. He created a big chance, and his passing was sharp.

Samuel Lino - 6.5: He looked quite lively during his 65 minutes on the pitch. What stood out was his ability to create, fashioning three key passes for his teammates. He drew a couple of fouls in dangerous areas.

Jorginho - 8.5: Our man of the match, without a doubt. He was simply masterful in the center of the park. His passing accuracy of 94% was sublime, dictating the tempo of the game. He stepped up and coolly converted the crucial penalty to give Flamengo the lead. A world-class performance and the highest-rated player on the pitch.

Evertton Araújo - 6.5: A solid, if unspectacular, performance from the midfielder. He kept possession ticking over nicely and was strong in his duels. He did his job effectively without grabbing the headlines. Was substituted as Flamengo pushed for the win.

Forwards

Pedro - 8.0: Led the line superbly. His hold-up play was excellent, bringing his teammates into the game. He won all of his duels, which is impressive for a striker. He capped off a fine performance by scoring the goal that secured all three points for Flamengo.

Substitutes

Bruno Henrique - N/A: Came on and added energy but didn't have a defining impact on the game.

Luiz Araújo - N/A: Replaced the goalscorer Pedro late in the game to help see out the victory.

Gonzalo Plata - N/A: A late substitute with little time to influence the proceedings.

Nicolás de la Cruz - N/A: Came on for the captain in the final few minutes.

Manager

J. Nunes Alves Sousa Jardim - 7.5: His team went behind early in the second half but he didn't panic. The response from his side was magnificent. His tactical adjustments and substitutions worked perfectly to turn the game around. A very well-managed comeback victory.

Santos Player Ratings vs Flamengo

Check out the Santos player ratings vs Flamengo.

Goalkeeper

Gabriel Brazão - 5.5: It was a difficult night for the Santos goalkeeper. He conceded three goals, though he couldn't do much about the penalty or the own goal. From our perspective, he only made one save and looked a bit uncertain.

Defenders

Zé Ivaldo - 4.5: A truly miserable evening for the defender. The unfortunate own goal was the turning point that let Flamengo back into the match. He struggled to cope with the pressure and was substituted shortly after. A performance he will want to forget quickly.

Lucas Veríssimo - 6.0: As captain, he tried his best to organize a defense under siege. He made four crucial interceptions and a couple of blocks. However, his backline ultimately conceded three goals. A battling performance, but it wasn't enough.

Luan Peres - 5.5: He struggled against Flamengo's fluid attack. We noticed he committed a couple of fouls and lost more duels than he won. He was part of a defensive unit that collapsed in the second half. A challenging night for him.

Gonzalo Escobar - 6.0: He showed a lot of effort trying to get forward from his defensive position. He wasn't shy about shooting, taking three shots. Defensively, he was often stretched and couldn't stem the tide. A tireless but ultimately fruitless display.

Midfielders

Thaciano - 6.0: He had a couple of decent chances in the first half that he couldn't convert. He worked hard, but his final product was lacking. We felt he lost possession too often in key areas. Was substituted after 72 minutes.

Álvaro Barreal - 5.0: A night defined by one costly mistake. He conceded the penalty that gave Flamengo the lead, a clumsy challenge he'll regret. The yellow card he received added insult to injury. That moment overshadowed the rest of his performance.

Christian Oliva - 6.5: He provided a moment of sheer quality with his assist for Díaz's goal. It was a perfectly weighted pass. However, his influence on the game faded significantly after that. Was substituted as Santos lost control of the midfield.

Gustavo Henrique - 6.5: One of the better performers for the visitors. He was industrious in midfield, recovering the ball seven times. His passing was neat and tidy. He put in a real shift but was fighting a losing battle.

Gabriel Bontempo - 6.0: A battling performance in the middle. He wasn't afraid to get stuck in, earning a yellow card for his troubles. He worked hard but struggled to impact the game creatively.

Forwards

Lautaro Díaz - 7.5: The clear standout player for Santos. He scored an absolutely stunning goal to give his team the lead. He was a threat throughout, creating two chances for his teammates. He really deserved better than to be on the losing side.

Substitutes

Moisés - N/A: Came on but couldn't help turn the tide back in Santos' favour.

Gabriel Barbosa - N/A: Brought on to add fresh legs but had little impact.

Willian Arão - N/A: Replaced Oliva but struggled to gain a foothold in midfield.

Benjamín Rollheiser - N/A: A late sub with not enough time to change the game.

Manager

A. Stival - 6.0: His team started the second half perfectly with a brilliant goal. However, he would be very disappointed with how they collapsed after conceding the equalizer. His substitutions failed to wrestle back momentum. A promising start ended in a disappointing defeat.

Man of the Match

Jorginho was the man of the match.

Worst Performer

Zé Ivaldo was the worst performer.