Inter Milan beat AC Milan 4-3 in a thrilling derby at the San Siro on Saturday to move three points clear at the top of Serie A and leave coach Roberto Mancini purring with pride.
Inter were 4-1 up after Marco Materazzi scored in the 68th minute but the defender's excessive goal celebration led to him being sent off for a second yellow card and his side were then left to struggle with 10 men.
Alberto Gilardino brought Milan back into the game and Brazilian Kaka then hooked the ball home to make it 4-3 in injury time but Inter clung on for victory.
"It was a brilliant game," said Mancini.
"Until the sending off of Materazzi we had dominated the match and then, down to ten men and with some tired players that I couldn't substitute, we struggled.
"If we had stayed with 11 players on the field I think we would have scored even more," added the Inter coach.
Materazzi was sent off after taking off his shirt to celebrate his goal and Mancini was critical of the rule used by the referee.
"I'm not having a go at the referee who applied a rule of the game but that rule is pathetic, absurd and ruins games. Materazzi did nothing wrong," said the Inter coach.
TEAM BONDING
Inter midfielder Dejan Stankovic said the manner of the victory had been a bonding experience for the team.
"We showed a lot of grit. We all struggled together right until the end," said the Serb.
"We didn't wrap the match up properly at 3-0 or 4-1 but maybe that is for the best as we had the experience of all battling out together," added Stankovic.
He had created the opening goal for Hernan Crespo before adding the second, in spectacular fashion, himself.
The result leaves Milan, who began the season with a minus eight point penalty imposed by a sports tribunal, 14 points behind their city rivals but coach Carlo Ancelotti said there was no question of throwing in the towel.
"We will take it week by week, there is a long way to go yet and the important thing is to have the desire and the strength to produce a great season," said the Milan coach.
"We were applauded off the field by our fans and that shows they understood we gave our all as we tried to come back."
Inter are top with 21 points followed by Palermo, who visit Fiorentina on Sunday, with 18. Third-placed AS Roma won 1-0 at Udinese on Saturday to move on to 17 points.
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