SAO PAULO, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) – Vitor Roque scored twice in the second half as Palmeiras extended their lead in Brazil's Serie A with a 2-0 victory over Santos at Allianz Parque.
Roque opened the scoring in the 67th minute by receiving a pass from Juan Manuel Lopez, outmaneuvering goalkeeper Gabriel Brazao, and calmly finishing into an empty net.
The former Barcelona forward sealed the win by lifting a shot over Brazao 10 minutes before the final whistle, assisted by Rafael Veiga’s precise through ball.
Palmeiras now have 68 points, three clear of second-place Flamengo. Both teams have seven matches remaining this season.
"In the first half we weren't able to translate our dominance into goals," Palmeiras manager Abel Ferreira said. "But that changed after halftime. With the changes that we made, we had great energy and looked to score at every opportunity. It's a deserved victory."
Palmeiras’ win reinforced their position as favorites for the Serie A title, showcasing resilience and clinical finishing in the second half.