SAO PAULO, May 12 (Xinhua) -- Brazil midfielder Paulinho and defender Paulo Andre struck either side of half-time as Corinthians defeated Santos 2-1 in the first leg of the Campeonato Paulista final on Sunday.

Paulinho opened the scoring on the stroke of half-time at the Pacaembustadium by firing in a low shot from just outside the six-yard box after Danilo's sliding assist from a Romarinho free-kick.

Andre doubled the lead in the 74th minute with a first-time strike into the top corner after Santos' defence failed to clear an Emerson corner-kick.

Durval scored a vital away goal for Santos with a searing 82nd-minute header after Felipe Anderson's in-swinging free-kick.

"Santos weren't able to neutralize us during the first half," Corinthians coach Tite said after the match. "Our movement was intense and they found it too difficult to mark us."

The deciding return leg will be played at Santos Vila Belmiro stadium next Sunday.