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BUENOS AIRES, May 18 (Reuters) - Four players were sent off as Estudiantes beat arch-rivals Gimnasia-La Plata 2-1 to go three points clear at the top of the Argentine Clausura championship.
Ezequiel Maggiolo scored both goals for Estudiantes, the second when they were down to nine men against eleven, in Saturday's game.
The two sides from La Plata, 60 km south of Buenos Aires, share one of the fiercest rivalries in Argentina.
Maggiolo headed Estudiantes ahead after 23 minutes but there was drama at the end of the first half when Estudiantes defender Marcos Angeleri stopped a goalbound shot with his hand and was sent off.
Federico Dominguez missed the resulting penalty.
Dominguez atoned in the 65th minute when he headed Gimnasia's equaliser and two minutes later Estudiantes had Rodrigo Brana sent off for a second bookable offence.
Despite this, Estudiantes went back in front in the 70th minute with another Maggiolo header and their opponents had Juan Neira and Roberto Salvatierra sent off in the last 15 minutes.
Estudiantes, who have 33 points from 15 games, moved three points ahead of second-placed River Plate, who play Independiente on Sunday.
Velez Sarsfield also finished with nine men as they lost 2-0 at Argentinos Juniors and dropped six points behind Estudiantes with four games to play.
Mariano Ugglesich and Maximiliano Bustos were dismissed in the second half while goals from Sergio Escudero and Alvaro Pereira gave Argentinos the points.
