BUENO AIRES, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- Independiente survived for more than an hour with 10 men as they eked out a 1-1 draw with Gremio in the first leg of the Recopa Sudamericana decider here on Wednesday.
Gremio, last year's Copa Libertadores champions, took the lead in the 21st minute following a superb piece of individual skill from forward Luan.
The 24-year-old danced past three defenders before calmly lifting a shot over goalkeeper Martin Campana.
The Brazilian side's cause was boosted six minutes later when Emmanuel Gigliotti was shown a straight red card for scything down central defender Walter Kannemann
But the reigning Copa Sudamericana champions equalized just after the half hour mark courtesy of a Cortez own goal.
The Argentine side defended resolutely in the second half to secure a point and set the scene for a tantalizing return leg in Porto Alegre next Wednesday.
The Recopa Sudamericana is played annually between the winners of the previous year's Copa Libertadores - South America's top club competition - and the second-tier Copa Sudamericana.
