Goalscorer Carlos Tevez saluted Manchester City’s fans after his double saw off neighbours United in the first leg of the Carling Cup semi-final.
Former United striker Tevez gestured to his old team-mates and cupped his ears towards their bench after scoring twice in a feisty 2-1 derby win at Eastlands.
“It was special for me – but it was for the fans of City,” said the Argentine.
In a controversial encounter, United defender Gary Neville appeared to have a heated touchline exchange with Tevez.
Visiting defender Patrice Evra was also unhappy, indicating to the referee that a lighter had been thrown at him from the crowd.
City take a lead to Old Trafford after 25-year-old Tevez levelled from the penalty spot before nodding in a second-half winner.
“Now I would say we have a 51% chance,” said City’s Italian manager Roberto Mancini.
“Carlos is an ex-Man Utd player so this game was very important for him. To score two goals was excellent.”
Tevez was a fans’ favourite at Old Trafford but felt manager Sir Alex Ferguson could have done more to keep him before an acrimonious move to the blue side of Manchester in the summer.
He made his former employers pay with a determined, tireless performance, seemingly driven to prove a point.
Ryan Giggs had given the visitors a deserved lead but Tevez equalised with a penalty after a debatable Rafael da Silva foul on Craig Bellamy and then grabbed another goal with a header.
With the semi-final delicately balanced for the second leg on 27 January, City midfielder Gareth Barry believes that fate played a big role in the outcome at Eastlands.
“Obviously the talk was about Carlos before the game and he did his talking on the pitch with a great performance,” the England star told BBC One.
“That’s the way it’s written sometimes and the way Carlos works. He deserves it.”
Giggs, who poked the ball home from two yards after Shay Given had saved Wayne Rooney’s effort to hand United an early lead, was not surprised by the efforts of his former team-mate.
“Carlos is a good player,” stated the Welsh winger. “If he gets chances then he scores. We know what he’s all about.”
Mancini, who took over from Mark Hughes in December, was pleased to have gained victory in his first Manchester derby.
“It is not a big advantage but it is an advantage,” he said.
“I am happy with the result because we were behind after 20 minutes and I felt it could be difficult but we recovered, scored two goals and played well.
“They had three or four chances but, in Shay Given, we have one of the best goalkeepers.”
Ferguson was unmoved as Tevez repeated the cupped-ears gesture he first performed last season in front of his then home dug-out in the Manchester derby at Old Trafford when trying to secure a new contract.
The striker also made a ‘talking hand’ gesture, which seemed to be aimed at his detractors.
