Chapecoense defeats Atletico Nacional in 1st leg of Recopa Sudamericana

The Recopa Sudamericana might be a flawed tournament, but try telling that to Chapecoense.

On Tuesday, Chapecoense edged out Atletico Nacional 2-1 at Arena Conda in an emotional first leg of the Recopa Sudamericana, a tournament that pits the reigning champion of the Copa Libertadores against the reigning champion of the Copa Sudamericana.

Under normal circumstances, the Recopa Sudamericana is viewed as being a fairly pointless tournament. But this year's edition of the tournament is anything but pointless, as Chapecoense and Nacional never got the chance to take the pitch together in last year's Copa Sudamericana. Most of the Verdao's squad was killed when a plane crashed into the mountains near Medellin, Colombia, and El Verde requested the Brazilian club be crowned.

Related - Gallery: Atletico Nacional gets hero's welcome upon arriving at Chapeco

In other words, this year's Recopa Sudamericana is a chance for two clubs that are united by air disaster to play the two games they were denied of playing.

As Alan Ruschel, Neto, and Jackson Follmann - the three players who survived the plane crash - watched from the stands, Chapecoense produced a display that was nothing short of inspiring. It took only 24 minutes for the Verdao to open the scoring, as Reinaldo converted a penalty kick after Daniel Bocanegra was judged to have blocked a shot using his left arm.

Half of Chapecoense's international goals in 2017 have come been scored by Reinaldo, who also tallied the Verdao's first ever goal in the Copa Libertadores as the Brazilian club defeated Zulia 2-1.

Macnelly Torres manufactured a phenomenal equaliser in the second half, but, moments after a 71st-minute tribute to remember the 71 victims of LaMia Flight 2933, Luiz Octavio, a substitute, got his head to a corner kick and filled Arena Conda with joy.

Following the final whistle, the lights were immediately dimmed and fireworks lit up the sky. Chapecoense will carry a one-goal advantage into the second leg, which goes on May 10 at Estadio Atanasio Girardot.