Independiente del Valle pull level with Flamengo in Recopa

QUITO - Argentinian midfielder Cristian Pellerano converted a late penalty to earn Ecuador's Independiente del Valle a 2-2 home draw with Brazilian side Flamengo in the first leg of the Recopa Sudamericana on Wednesday.

Jacob Murillo stunned the Copa Libertadores and Brazilian Serie A title holders by curling in a 30-yard free-kick in the 20th minute at Quito's Estadio Olimpico.

But the hosts equalized when Giorgian Arrascaeta released Bruno Henrique on the counterattack and the latter calmly slotted his shot past Jorge Pinos, who was lucky to avoid sanction for scything down the Brazilian with a late tackle.

Fiorentina loanee Pedro gave Flamengo the lead with five minutes left by poking in a first-time effort after Everton Ribeiro's cross from the right.

But Pellerano put his team back on level terms after Murillo was tripped by Rafinha in stoppage time.

Flamengo qualified for the Recopa Sudamericana - South America's version of the European Super Cup - by winning last year's Copa Libertadores for just the second time in their history.

Independiente booked their place by being crowned 2019 champions of the second-tier Copa Sudamericana - the region's equivalent to the UEFA Europa League.

The second leg of the Recopa Sudamericana will be played at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro on February 26.