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By Brian Homewood
RIO DE JANEIRO, May 18 (Reuters) - Palmeiras emerged from a troubled week by beating nine-man Internacional 2-1 in the Brazilian championship on Sunday.
The club had angered fans by hiking ticket prices by one third and the match was watched by a crowd of only 10,116, Palmeiras's smallest home attendance of the year and less than half the average.
Striker Kleber was also dropped by coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo for a bad tackle during Friday's practice which left a reserve team player with an twisted ankle.
Mercurial Chilean playmaker Jorge Valdivia was involved in the two key moments, drawing the foul which led to a red card for Internacional's Edinho and winning the penalty which provided Palmeiras's winner.
Edinho was given a straight red card in the 21st minute and accused Valdivia of over-reacting.
"I fouled him but he made a meal of it," he said.
Former Brazil winger Denilson put Palmeiras ahead but Indio headed Internacional level in first-half stoppage-time.
BUNDLED OVER
Palmeiras's winner came on the hour when Alex Mineiro converted a penalty after Valdivia was bundled over by Andres Orozco.
Internacional had Argentine midfielder Pedro Guinazu sent off in the 75th minute for a second bookable offence.
Gallo became the second coach to quit in less than one week when he resigned after Figueirense's 2-1 win over Coritiba.
"The team had one way of thinking and I had another," he said.
He is the 11th coaching casualty of the season, which began in January.
Titleholders Sao Paulo drew 1-1 at Atletico Paranaense, picking up their first point of the championship, despite fielding a reserve team before next week's Libertadores Cup tie against Fluminense.
Kleber Pereira scored a hat-trick to help Santos beat Ipatinga 4-0 while Cruzeiro and Nautico are the only teams with six points from their opening two games.
Cruzeiro beat Botafogo 1-0 and Nautico won 2-0 at Fluminense.
