By Samuel A. December 9, 2023
In one of the most exciting seasons in Brasileiro Serie A history, on Wednesday, the final day of the season, ended with Palmeiras successfully defending their title and Santos, Brazil legend Pele’s former club, relegating for the first time in their 111 year history. A 2-1 home defeat against Fortaleza, including a last minute winner in their final league match of the season meant they dropped out of Serie A, Brazil’s top flight. Santos were level at 1-1, Vasco da Gama, drawing 1-1 with Red Bull Bragantino, occupied the fourth relegation spot in the 20 team division, but Serginho scored for Vasco da Gama in the 82nd minute, and a stoppage time winner from Fortaleza’s Lucero left Santos one point adrift of safety. The historic club has won 12 state titles, six league titles and two Copas Libertadores during their golden era of the 1950s and 1960s. Other teams regulated were, America Mineiro, Coritiba and Goias.
This year’s title went to Palmeiras with striker Endrick, set to join Real Madrid, scoring several key goals and rival Botafogo squandering a 13 point lead in the standings.
Atlético Mineiro and Flamengo, who had slim chances of winning the trophy in the last round, lost their matches. Those defeats allowed Luis Suárez’ Gremio to finish runners up after a 3-2 win at Fluminense, with the Uruguayan striker, who is expected to link up with former Barcelona teammate Lionel Messi at MLS side Inter Miami CF next year, netting twice.
Palmeiras finished with 70 points, two more than Gremio. Botafogo, who led for 31 of 38 rounds, surprisingly finished fifth with 64 points. The Rio club lost 3-1 at Internacional, and ended the season with an 11 game winless streak.
Santos finished one point behind City Football Group owned Bahia, who beat Atletico Mineiro 4-1, and two less than Vasco da Gama, the winners of another tense clash against Bragantino.
Mario Sergio opened the scoring for the visitors in the 39th minute. Messias equalized in the 58th minute to give Santos hope, which could’ve put Vasco da Gama or Bahia in a relegation position. But Fortaleza’s Juan Martin Lucero scored from long distance shortly before the final whistle. The match ended as soon as Santos fans tried to invade the pitch, forcing players to run to the locker rooms.
The costal city team were one of three clubs, along with Sao Paulo and Flamengo, never to have been relegated from Brazil’s top flight but a woeful run of five games without a victory saw them drop to 17th in the standings with 43 points. Flamengo and Sao Paulo now remain the only sides who have never been relegated.
