Copa Libertadores Wrap: Bocanegra´s late show clinches draw for Atletico Nacional

Atletico Nacional survived a first-minute red card to salvage a 2-2 draw with Nacional in Tuesday’s Copa Libertadores action.

Alejandro Bernal was sent off just 25 seconds into the contest at the Estadio Atanasio Girardot, for stomping on Nacional midfielder Maximiliano Calzada.

And the visitors looked to make the most of their good fortune, as they shot out to a two-goal lead prior to the 20-minute mark.

Carlos de Pena struck in the fourth minute, sneaking in a bouncing left-foot strike off the post after dribbling from midfield.

Calzada recovered from his early knock, to chip a well-weighted ball to Santiago Garcia, who had a simple finish past Atletico custodian Luis Martinez for 2-0 in the 19th minute.

However, the hosts in Medellin would stem the bleeding and mount a stunning comeback.

Midfielder Daniel Bocanegra was the hero, as he first pulled a goal back with a towering header from a Sherman Cardenas corner.

Bocanegra then earned the hosts a point in thrilling fashion, as his dipping strike from range snuck under the crossbar in the second minute of injury time.

Atletico sit second in Group Six on four points, while Nacional remain winless – but on the bright side, picked up their first point of the campaign through three games.

There were four red cards in six matches on Tuesday, with two dealt out late in Universidad Chile’s 2-1 win at Real Garcilaso.

The visitors to Peru came away with all three points in the Group Five encounter, taking them to six in three matches, but not before both sides had a man sent off on 90 minutes.

Garcilaso’s goalscorer Victor Ferreira and Universidad defender Igor Lichnovsky were both dismissed.

In Group Eight, Deportivo Anzoategui’s winless campaign continued as they were held 1-1 at home to Santos Laguna.

Oribe Peralta put the Liga MX side ahead on 63 minutes, before the Venezuelan hosts secured a point via a Manuel Arteaga equaliser.

Santos Laguna sit top of the group on seven points, while Anzoategui have just two from three matches.

Each of Defensor Sporting, The Strongest and Emelec all enjoyed home wins.

Ten-man Defensor beat Brazil’s Cruzeiro 2-0, with Felipe Gedoz netting a brace either side of team-mate Ramon Arias’ dismissal in the second half.

The Strongest were powered to a 2-0 win over Argentine club Velez Sarsfield in Bolivia by a Pablo Escobar double, the first of which from the penalty spot.

Emelec were triumphant 2-1 over Liga MX outfit Leon in Ecuador, as Luis Escalada scored twice to earn the hosts all three points.