Six Appeal at Santos

Santos and Totaalvoetbal shared six goals in a thriller at Estadio do Deus.

When Rogerio Franca shot home after 23 minutes the home side were hopeful of picking up their first win since promotion.

Totaalvoetbal had other thoughts as Pierre van Diemen shot home only four minutes later.

As the second-half started the visitors completed the turnaround with a Shirsh Vajpayee header finding its way past Valdez in goal.

Two injuries were to give Santos a route back into the game as Richard van Mosen and Richie Chalmers were called in for their debuts.

Santos quickly took advantage of this inexperience with Torbjorn Alshammar finishing a breakaway to make it 2-2.

Alshammar then headed in for 3-2 but Totaal showed champion quality in hitting straight back through Johan Juffing to earn a share of the points.

The game began in open fashion with Torbjorn Alshammar shooting just wide for the hosts and Juffing replying with a header just over for Totaalvoetbal.

Santos were to take the lead after 23 minutes following a Fredrick Winnerljung corner. The ball fell to Rogerio Franca who managed to loop the ball in to the delight of the home faithful.

The lead didn't last long enough for those fans, though, as Cees van Nisterooy fed van Diemen and the young striker made no mistake in finding the net.

A free-kick from Alshammar looked to give the hosts the lead once more but he fired over.

Totaalvoetbal started the second-half in perfect fashion when Vajpayee powered home a header from a Miquel Oriol corner.

Injuries to Edwin Hayter and Oriol saw the visitors reshuffle and give Santos fresh belief as two youngsters came on to replace them.

Alshammar was quick to capitalise as he beat Leemans to his left from a Ray Goddard pass.

Santos were to then regain the lead as Alshammar was given too much space to plant his header past Leemans from a Winnerljung centre.

Totaalvoetbal may be going through a slight rebuild but much of the character from winning the championship remains and they showed it in abundance to hit back instantly. Johan Juffing placing a header in from a pinpoint Vajpayee cross.

Freddie Smit looked to win it with two efforts but one went well wide and another was easily held by the 'keeper as the match ended 3-3.

"Breathless!" was Meeblind's reaction.

"At the beginning of the second-half I strongly fancied us but the injuries changed everything.

"We've shown tremendous character against a Santos side who came to attack us.

"Hopefully we'll get our players back as we prepare for Stanley and I get to welcome Markham into the RM Invitational top division with a bottle of something nice."