Palmeiras draw with Club Atletico River Plate 2-2 in Copa Libertadores

Maldonado (Uruguay), Feb 17: Brazilian football club Palmeiras opened their 2016 Copa Libertadores campaign with a 2-2 draw away with Club Atletico River Plate of Uruguay.

The Brazilian club twice took the lead at the Domingo Burgueno Miguel stadium in Maldonado on Tuesday, through Jean and Gabriel Jesus. But they were pegged back by the hosts and were forced to settle for a point.

Palmeiras opened the scoring towards the end of the first half, when Dudu supplied Jean to apply the finishing touch.

But the home team got back on level terms soon after the interval, when Palmeiras goalkeeper Fernando Prass brought down Schiappacasse inside the penalty area and Michael Santos converted the penalty.

However, Palmeiras managed to retake the lead when veteran forward Alecsandro combined with Jesus for the latter to find the back of the net.

And just when it looked as if the Brazilians would walk away with the points, Montelongo arrived unmarked in the area to snatch a share of the spoils for the Uruguayans.

Palmeiras are back in Libertadores action on March 2, when they host Argentine side Rosario Central.