Palmeiras' Murilo (left) and Athletico Paranaense's Vitinho (right) vie for the ball during the Copa Libertadores all-Brazilian first leg semifinal football match, at the Arena da Baixada stadium, in Curitiba, Brazil, on Aug 30, 2022. (NELSON ALMEIDA / AFP)

CURITIBA - An early strike from Alex Santana gave Athletico Paranaense a 1-0 home victory over defending champions Palmeiras in the first leg of their all-Brazilian Copa Libertadores semifinal in Curitiba on Tuesday.

Santana showed balance and poise as he side-footed home in the 23rd minute after a scramble on the edge of the six-yard box.

The hosts were forced to play the last 20 minutes with 10 men after midfielder Hugo Moura received a second yellow card for handball.

Palmeiras' Ze Rafael (left) and Athletico Paranaense's Alex Santana (right) vie for the ball during the Copa Libertadores all-Brazilian first leg semifinal football match, at the Arena da Baixada stadium, in Curitiba, Brazil, on Aug 30, 2022. (NELSON ALMEIDA / AFP)

But Luiz Felipe Scolari's men defended resolutely to take the slightest of advantages into next week's return leg in Sao Paulo.

READ MORE: Pedro fires Flamengo into Copa Libertadores semifinals

Paranaense is aiming to win South America's premier club competition for the first time in their history while Palmeiras is vying for a fourth title.