RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (AP) -- Veteran striker Tulio scored a 76th-minute goal to lead Volta Redonda to a thrilling 4-3 comeback win against Fluminense in the first leg of the Rio de Janeiro state championship on Sunday.
Volta Redonda, which was losing 2-0 during most of the first half at the packed Maracana, needs only a draw in the second leg next weekend to win its first state title.
Tulio, the charismatic striker who led Botafogo to the 1995 national championship, scored from a penalty kick less than 15 minutes from the end to seal Volta Redonda's win. Tulio, who played with Brazil's national side in the late 1990s, is the tournament's leading scorer with 12 goals.
Fluminense, looking for its first state title since 2002 and only its second since 1995, got off to a strong start, going up 2-0 after only five minutes. Midfielder Preto Casagrande netted a free kick in the first minute, and striker Leandro added from inside the box in the fifth.
Striker Leo Guerra brought Volta Redonda to within one goal of the lead by dribbling past Fluminense goalkeeper Kleber and firing into the open net in the 44th, and midfielder Adriano equalized on a breakaway in the 60th.
Guerra added his second goal from close range in the 84th, while Leandro netted Fluminense's third with a header in the 88th.
Volta Redonda, which came in to the finals as the underdog, had never beaten Fluminense at Maracana. The team from Volta Redonda city in the interior of Rio de Janeiro state qualified for the final by winning the first stage of the competition.
Fluminense, seeking its 30th title, advanced by beating rival Flamengo 4-1 last Sunday in the second stage.
The Rio tournament, known locally as the Carioca championship, is divided in two stages. The winners of each stage play for the state title.
In the second-to-last round of the Sao Paulo state championship, Sao Paulo _ with the title already secured _ lost 2-1 to Ponte Preta at Morumbi stadium on Saturday.
Brazilian champion Santos moved into second place by beating Paulista 1-0 at Vila Belmiro stadium behind an 88th-minute goal from striker Deivid.
Third-place Corinthians, coming off a thrilling 5-1 rout of Cianorte to advance to the round of 16 of the Brazilian Cup, was held to 1-1 by Portuguesa at Pacaembu stadium in Sao Paulo.
The three-time national champion played without most of its regular starters as coach Daniel Passarella prepares the team for the upcoming Brazilian championship.
In other results, Palmeiras was routed 3-0 by Rio Branco in Americana, while defending champion Sao Caetano defeated Mogi Mirim 3-2 at Anacleto Campanella stadium in Sao Caetano do Sul.
Inter de Limeira, Uniao Barbarense and Atletico Sorocaba were virtually relegated to the second division despite wins on Sunday. The bottom four clubs in the 20-team standings move down, and six teams are still in danger.
