SAO PAULO (Interstat) — Bia Zaneratto scored for Palmeiras and Evelyn Burgos answered late for Independiente del Valle as the home side was held to a 1-1 draw in a women’s Copa Libertadores match Wednesday. Palmeiras of Brazil pushed for a winning start on home soil, while Independiente del Valle of Ecuador stayed within reach and found the equalizer in the closing stretch. The result kept both teams unbeaten in the competition and left Palmeiras to settle for a point after a late setback.

Palmeiras had the better of the early exchanges and worked the ball through Bia Zaneratto, whose movement caused problems for the Independiente back line. The Brazilian side created the clearer openings but could not turn its territorial advantage into a larger lead. Independiente del Valle defended in numbers and looked to Burgos for relief on the counter. Independiente’s best chances came on quick transitions, with Burgos and Caicedo J. trying to stretch the Palmeiras defense before the hosts settled into a rhythm. The match became scrappy before halftime. Taina Maranhao was booked for Palmeiras in the 45th minute, and Glaucia was booked in first-half stoppage time. Palmeiras finished the opening period with three yellow-card entries, including two to Glaucia, and went into the break without the cushion its possession had suggested.

Palmeiras made three changes at the start of the second half, a sequence that included Espinales J., Taina Maranhao and Brena Carolina. Independiente del Valle made its first substitution at 55 with Aviles S., and Palmeiras brought on Poliana at the same minute. Independiente then introduced Caicedo J. at 67 as it sought a firmer foothold in midfield. The visitors continued to absorb pressure but began to find more space as Palmeiras pushed numbers forward. Palmeiras kept probing through the middle and from wide areas, but Independiente’s back line held firm enough to keep the match within one goal. The substitutions changed the tempo rather than the score, and neither side could string together sustained possession in the final third until the late chances arrived.

The late sequence arrived with the match still finely balanced. Burgos Cedeno E.E. had been booked in the 49th minute, and Litardo K. was booked for Independiente in the 82nd. Two minutes later, Burgos Cedeno scored for Independiente del Valle in the 84th minute to level the match at 1-1. The goal canceled out Bia Zaneratto’s earlier strike for Palmeiras and rewarded the visitors for their patience. Palmeiras replaced Bia Zaneratto in the 86th minute, and Independiente took Burgos Cedeno off in the 87th after her goal. Burgos finished with a goal, a yellow card and 87 minutes played. Bia Zaneratto had a goal and 86 minutes for Palmeiras. Palmeiras pressed for a winner after the equalizer but could not find a decisive final ball.

The draw left Independiente del Valle at 1-0-2 in the competition and 1-0-2 across all competitions. Palmeiras is 2-0-1 in the competition and 2-0-1 across all competitions. Independiente del Valle’s previous results this season included a 4-2 win over U. de Deportes and a 1-1 draw with Belgrano. Palmeiras had beaten Belgrano 3-1 and U. de Deportes 1-0. The previous results had left Palmeiras with a perfect record and Independiente with a win and a draw before the match. Independiente del Valle next faces Corinthians on Saturday, while Palmeiras hosts Santa Fe on Saturday. Both teams return to competition Saturday.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a 2-1 Palmeiras win. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Palmeiras with a 69.2 percent probability to win. Palmeiras had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -0.5. The total score of 2 went over the over/under line of 2.5.