Brazilian giants Palmeiras gained an important 1-1 away draw against compatriots Atletico Mineiro in the first leg of the Copa Sudamericana quarter-finals.

A second-half score by Kleber earned Palmeiras a previous away goal ahead of the second leg on 10 November. Kleber converted his chance following a move involving Tinga ten minutes after the interval to open the scoring for Luiz Felipe Scolari's Palmeiras. Obina came off the bench to tie the match in the 76th minute with a goal from a penalty.

Atletico Mineiro coach Dorival Junior is confident of clinching a place in the semi-finals. He said: "It was a great game, we had more chances than Palmeiras to win. We have to think we are still alive for the decisive match."

The return match will be played in Sao Paulo and the winners of the tie will play another Brazilian team with Goias and Avai playing involved in another quarter-final tie.

Goias and Avai drew 2-2 at the Estadio Serra Dourada in Goiania. Rafael Moura netted a late equaliser to help Goias avoid a home loss. Moura received the ball from Wellington Monteiro and put Goias ahead in the 29th minute, but Vagner Benazzi's Avai came back in the second period.

Davi equalised with a penalty seven minutes after the interval before Marcelinho gave Avai the lead with a right-foot shot to the far post in the 70th. Avai fans were celebrating early but Moura levelled the scores when he shot home in the third minute of injury time.

The return match will be played in Florianopolis on 11 November.