AC Milan got the better of a nine-goal thriller at Ennino Tardini this evening as they beat Parma 5-4 in a Serie A clash which ended with both teams a man down.

There was a goal for either side in the space of two minutes when Antonio Cassano cancelled out Giacomo Bonaventura's opener just before the half-hour mark.

Keisuke Honda, who had earlier supplied Bonaventura with an assist, then scored one of his own with a close-ranger header to put Milan ahead again.

Jeremy Menez won a dubious penalty on the stroke of half time before picking himself up to convert from 12 yards to give Milan a 3-1 lead at the break.

Felipe grabbed once back for the home side when he converted after a great cross from Cristobal Jorquera six minutes after the restart.

Parma's cause was then aided by the dismissal of Daniele Bonera, who received his second yellow card just before the hour mark.

However, former Manchester City midfielder Nigel de Jong restored Milan's two-goal advantage on 68 minutes.

Parma captain Alessandro Lucarelli gave the home side hope when he rose highest at the near post to turn home a header five minutes later.

The home side's numerical advantage was wiped out on 77 minutes when Felipe was given his marching orders for a second bookable offence.

With 11 minutes of the game remaining, Menez grabbed his second of the evening with a unique individual goal in which he rounded the keeper from an unlikely angle before flicking the ball into the net.

Despite Diego Lopez's clumsy attempts to control a back-pass resulting in Mattia De Sciglio's late own goal, Milan held on to earn the three points.