Copa Libertadores wrap: Nacional salvage draw, Emelec edge Velez

Former Inter Milan forward Alvaro Recoba rescued a point for Nacional in the opening match of the Copa Libertadores second stage.

The 36-year-old laid on assists for both goals, including the 92nd-minute equaliser, as Uruguay’s Nacional came from behind in a 2-2 draw against Ecuador’s Barcelona in Montevideo.

Barcelona got off to a brilliant start with Damian Diaz netting an 18th-minute volley from 25 yards before Arien Nahuelpan bundled a Geovanny Nazareno cross home seven minutes later to double the advantage.

The home side brought on Recoba in the 57th minute and 12 minutes later the attacker’s set-piece was finished off by Sebastian Abreu to give the home side hope.

Emotions boiled over shortly after as Barcelona saw Jose Perlaza receive a second yellow for shoving Abreu in the 75th minute and Nacional’s Alejandro Lembo got the same punishment for a poor challenge two minutes later.

With the game slipping away from Nacional, up stepped Recoba to take the corner and his delivery was met by Ivan Alonso to complete the comeback and send the home fans delirious.

In other Copa Libertadores action, a 50th-minute own goal from Facundo Ferreyra was enough to secure a 1-0 victory for Emelec against Velez Sarsfield, while a Sebastian Ubilla brace secured Universidad Chile’s 2-0 home win versus Deportivo Lara.