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OLD TRAFFORD: Manchester United’s Robin van Persie celebrates with teammate Wayne Rooney, after scoring his side’s third goal and his hat-trick, during the Champions League, Round of 16, second leg match against Olympiakos. — AP Van the man for United

MANCHESTER: Robin van Persie scored a hat- ducing a fine double save shortly before Van have ruled them out of the first leg in the a stunning double save to thwart David Fuster out with senior players including Ryan Giggs trick as Manchester United kept their season Persie levelled the tie in first-half injury time. quarter-finals, but they worried United on the and Dominguez. and Robin van Persie. alive by storming back to beat Olympiakos 3-0 United’s progress will ease the pressure on counter-attack. Within minutes the tie was level, as Giggs- “A lot of people are trying to divide us in and reach the Champions League quarter- manager David Moyes, whose position was A low Jose Holebas cross had to be hacked again-freed Rooney with a lofted ball into the some way or not keep us together,” Moyes told finals yesterday. the subject of intense press speculation prior clear by Phil Jones, while Hernan Perez should inside-right channel and the England man the club’s television channel, MUTV. “I can only United were left on the brink of elimination to kick-off, but he will remain under scrutiny have done better than hoist the ball high and centred for Van Persie to slam home. tell people what they’re hearing or what they after losing the first leg of the last 16 tie 2-0, over the season’s closing weeks. wide from 12 yards after being picked out by United had the momentum and seven min- are saying is rubbish.” Moyes faces press spec- but on a stirring night at Old Trafford the Sunday’s 3-0 loss at home to Liverpool left Joel Campbell. utes into the second half they made it count ulation about his job after seeing United fall Dutchman’s treble took them into the last United 12 points outside the top four in the Gradually, United raised the tempo, and when Van Persie whipped a 25-yard free-kick 18 points off the pace in the Premier League eight for the first time since 2011. Van Persie’s Premier League, meaning that they may have after Wayne Rooney had put a header against past an oddly static Roberto to complete his and crash out of both domestic cup competi- evening was to end on a sour note, as he was to qualify for next season’s Champions League the post from a floated Giggs cross, they first Champions League hat-trick. The hosts tions. stretchered from the field in the latter stages by winning the current edition. United, for secured a foothold in the tie in the 25th remained vulnerable, however, with Stories have emerged of bust-ups involving after going down holding his leg, but it did whom Ryan Giggs excelled in central midfield, minute. Olympiakos needing just one goal to regain Giggs and Van Persie, but the latter declared not dampen United’s celebrations. made their attacking intent immediately clear, Giggs was the architect, his raking pass the lead, and there were heart-in-mouth his happiness at Old Trafford in a recent inter- It was the first time United had ever over- with the forwards pressing high up the pitch freeing Van Persie, who was clattered from moments when De Gea was obliged to save view and Giggs who is also a member of turned a two-goal deficit in the competition and sighs echoing around the ground when- behind by Holebas, and after referee Bjorn from Perez and Dominguez. Ultimately United Moyes’s coaching staff-is reported to have and made them only the sixth team to have ever the ball went backwards. Kuipers pointed to the spot, the Dutch striker survived, but at the cost of Van Persie’s injury been angered by the reports. clawed back a disadvantage of two goals or GIGGS RAISES TEMPO swept home from 12 yards. Visiting goalkeep- and a booking to Evra that rules him out of the “Over the last few weeks, (the media) have more in the Champions League era. Victory Olympiakos received two early setbacks er Roberto then touched a Patrice Evra header first leg of their quarter-finals.-AFP tried to say there are problems with this player was far from straightforward, however, with when Kostas Manolas and Alejandro over the bar, but United would have had a Meanwhile, David Moyes spoke out yester- or that player,” Moyes added. “But the reports United goalkeeper David de Gea notably pro- Dominguez picked up bookings that would mountain to climb had De Gea not produced day to dismiss media reports that he has fallen are all rubbish.”— AFP Zenit bow out despite 2-1 win at Dortmund DORTMUND: Borussia Dortmund booked their top left-hand corner. place in the Champions League quarter-finals At the other end, Dortmund’s Poland striker despite going down 2-1 at home to Zenit St Robert Lewandowski was booked on 19 minutes for Petersburg in yesterday’s last 16 second-leg clash. a handball while leaping for a corner and the yellow Dortmund went through 5-4 on aggregate after card will have repercussions. winning the first-leg in St Petersburg 4-2 three It was his third of the tournament and means he weeks ago. But the Zenit defeat was Dortmund’s is suspended for the first leg of the quarter-final. third Champions League loss of the season after Dortmund discover their opponents in Friday’s defeats at Napoli and home to Arsenal in the group draw. stages and this was a below-par performance from Dortmund’s left winger Kevin Grosskreutz then last season’s finalists. forced Zenit goalkeeper Vyacheslav Malafeev into a Brazil star Hulk, a constant threat on the left good save while Sokratis’ headed well over the bar wing, gave Zenit an early lead with a superb strike as the hosts went on the attack. before Dortmund drew level when veteran captain Attacking midfielder Oleg Shatov nearly added Sebastian Kehl headed their equaliser just before Zenit’s second when he fired in a shot which forced the break. Then Venezuela striker Jose Rondon, who Weidenfeller to palm away. joined Zenit in January from Russian rivals Rubin But Dortmund went into the break level when left Kazan, came off the bench to head home the sec- back Marcel Schmelzer fired in a cross, which Kehl ond-half winner. headed home after it bounced up off the turf on 38 Zenit will unveil ex-Chelsea and Tottenham minutes, even though Malafeev got a glove to it. Hotspur boss Andre Villas-Boas as their new manag- Hulk, not short on confidence after his goal, fired over er today. The Russians must have impressed their with a fierce free-kick on 51 minutes. Things became new manager, having produced a spirited display untidy in the second half with passes going astray. and taken the game to Dortmund, nearly achieving Dortmund just shaded possession, but were the three goals they needed in Germany to punished for sitting back when Rondon got in progress. behind the defence to poach the winner. Hulk breathed some life back into Zenit’s Italian left-back Domenico Criscito swung in a GERMANY: Zenit’s Brazilian forward Hulk celebrates scoring during Champions League ambitions when he put the superb cross and Rondon slipped his marker Mats the last 16 second-leg UEFA Champions League football match guests ahead with 16 minutes gone after he cut Hummels for a diving header to cause Dortmund GERMANY: Dortmund’s Neven Subotic of Serbia (right) and Zenit’s against Borussia Dortmund. — AFP inside two defenders and his powerful shot curled some late nerves while Weidenfeller was forced into Aleksandr Anyukov (left) challenge for the ball during the UEFA away from goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller into the several saves. — AFP Champions League last 16 second leg soccer match. —AP