UPDATE 2-Soccer-Boca begin Libertadores defence with dour draw

(adds result)

BUENOS AIRES, Feb 20 (Reuters) - Boca Juniors started their Libertadores Cup defence with an unconvincing 1-1 draw at UA Maracaibo on Wednesday in the opening Group 3 match.

The Argentine team are seeking a seventh South American Libertadores title but were outplayed by a lively Maracaibo outfit in the first half.

Arsenal scraped through with a 1-0 home win over Paraguayan side Libertad in Group 8.

Arsenal, who won the less prestigious Copa Sudamericana in 2007 for their first title, struggled to break through a well-drilled Paraguayan defence until Luciano Leguizamon scored with a free kick.

In Maracaibo, Venezuela, the hosts were composed in possession and restricted Boca to counter-attacks for much of the game.

Boca playmaker Juan Roman Riquelme, well-marked throughout the game, linked dangerously with Rodrigo Palacio but the left-winger crashed his shot onto the Maracaibo crossbar.

The game suffered an interruption when a fan ran on the pitch to embrace Riquelme, breaking up a Boca attack in the process.

But after 80 minutes, Maracaibo broke the deadlock when Miguel Mea Vitali smashed a rising free kick into the roof of the Boca net.