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Thursday, 20 March 2014

UEFA Champions League: Van Persie Takes United Into Quarter Final


Robin van Persie's hattrick salvaged Manchester United's Champions League dream as they defeat Olympiakos 3-0 and booked place in the quarter final stage of the competition.

United went into the match trailing 2-0 from the first leg played in Turkey and proved they needed the win more as they were quick to restore balance in the first half with two goals from Van Persie in the first half before he made it three in the second half, a goal that proved decisive in the end.

Moyes made four changes from Sunday's 3-0 Premier League defeat at home to fierce rivals Liverpool, bringing in experienced Rio Ferdinand and Ryan Giggs into the starting XI, Welbeck and Cleverly also started ahead of Fellani and Januzaj

Wayne Rooney was first to challenge visiting goalkeeper Roberto, with the Spanish shot-stopper making an extravagantly punch clear from a free-kick, but United's Herculean task almost became even greater 15 minutes in, when Hernan Perez scooped the ball over after good work by Joel Campbell to set up the opportunity.

Rooney went agonisingly close to making the visitors pay for that miss as he headed against the left-hand post from Giggs' cross, with replays suggesting that Roberto may have got the slightest of fingertips to the ball.

United however broke the deadlock from the spot after 25 minutes. Van Persie was recklessly bundled to the ground from behind by Holebas, and he stepped up to take the resulting penalty which he converted to record his side's first of the day.

Patrice Evra had Roberto diving at full stretch 10 minutes before the break, forcing the Spaniard into an impressive stop with a headed effort from Van Persie's corner.

David De Gea then made a crucial double save at the other end, first denying David Fuster's header and then recovering well to keep out Alejandro Dominguez's effort from close range.

United were level in the tie in the first-half stoppage time when Van Persie tapped home through the legs of Roberto after receiving a low cross from Rooney.

The Dutchman  completed his treble in the 52nd minute by curling a 20-yard free-kick around the Olympiakos wall and beyond a stagnant Roberto to give the home fans belief and lift a considerable weight off Moyes' shoulders.

However, he almost had the ball in the back of his own net shortly afterwards when Dominguez's free-kick deflected narrowly wide off his head.

The delicate nature of the scoreline was emphasized when Fuster's rifled effort straight at De Gea in the 67th minute had many-a-Mancunian heart in their mouth, with Olympiakos still only a single away goal from victory.

But United weathered a late storm to cling on to an important victory, although the sight of Van Persie leaving the field on a stretcher late on will be of some concern.

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