SÃO PAULO, Aug 10 (SW) - Internacional stunned reigning champions São Paulo, 2-1 at Estádio Morumbi in the first leg of the 2006 Copa Libertadores final on Wednesday night.

The match started a very physical encounter between the Brazilian rivals and São Paulo were dealt a blow in just the 10th minute as Josué was sent off for throwing an elbow on Rafael Sóbis in an aerial challenge.

The visitors nearly made that advantage pay off in the 18th minute as Jorge Wagner came up from the back on the left and fired in on goal, but Rogério Ceni made a fine save.

However, the man advantage would last only until the 38th minute when Inter's Fabinho was shown red by referee Jorge Larrionda after the fourth official caught him striking Souza with his left arm.

With the numbers level, Inter came out the better side in the second half and took a surprise lead when striker Sóbis took the ball in the middle, kept his balance after turning inside Fabão, and fired home past Rogério Ceni for the opener on 54 minutes.

Eight minutes later, Sóbis struck again on the rebound after Rogério Ceni made a spectacular save off of a point-blank shot by Tinga, seemingly putting the tie out of reach.

After Sóbis missed a great chance for a hat-trick, São Paulo pulled a goal back in the 76th minute as Edcarlos' near-post header from a cross by Souza made it 2-1.

Substitute Richarlyson came very close to an equalizer later on when he whistled a shot wide from inside the area, but the visitors will take the advantage back to Porto Alegre for next week's second leg.