BARRANQUILLA, Dec. 5 (Xinhua) -- Former Real Madrid B forward Pablo Teixeira was on target as Brazil's Atletico Paranaense held hosts Junior Barranquilla of Colombia to a 1-1 draw in the first leg of the Copa Sudamericana final on Wednesday.
Teixeira, who spent six months on loan in the Spanish capital in 2014, fired a first-time effort past Sebastian Viera after Nikao Ferreira's perfectly weighted through ball.
Yony Gonzalez equalized two minutes later by spinning and shooting in the same motion following James Sanchez's looping header.
The hosts were awarded a penalty in the 70th minute, but Rafael Perez sent his spot-kick crashing against the bar and the visitors defended resolutely thereafter to secure a result that they will have felt pleased with.
The decisive return leg will be played at Atletico Paranaense's Arena da Baixada in the southern Brazilian city of Curitiba on December 12.
The winner of the Copa Sudamericana will earn a berth in next year's Copa Libertadores, South America's top club competition.
