Van Persie turns hero

A heroic display from Robin Van Persie saw him bag three goals as Manchester United qualified for the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League.

Heading into the second leg of their Last 16 match at Old Trafford on Wednesday night, United had to overturn a two goal deficit to qualify for the next stage of the competition.

Up pops Van Perise who did not disappoint with three fine finishes on the night which saw the Red Devils win 3-0 on and consequently 3-2 on aggregate over the two leg affair.

United started very positively with Wayne Rooney and Van Persie causing headaches for the Olympiacos defence time and again.

In the 16th minute Rooney was unlucky not to give his side the lead when he met a cross from the left, but his header came off the left-hand post.

Rooney turned provider in the 23rd minute when he picked out Van Persie with a pin-point pass, but he was brought down inside the box by Jose Holebas and the referee pointed to the penalty spot.

Van Persie converted the spot-kick he had won to give his side the lead on the night, 1-0 (2-1 on aggregate).

United had to attack if they were to turn this tie around and in doing so left themselves exposed at the back.

David De Gea kept his side in the encounter in the 40th minute when he made two brilliant saves, first to deny David Fuster a header from 12-yards out and then quickly getting to his feet to make a close range stop from Alejandro Dominguez.

In the first minute of injury time in the opening stanza Van Persie put his side two in front as he superbly turned home a low left wing cross from Rooney, 2-0.

Six minutes into the second half United completed their comeback when Van Persie expertly curled home a 22-yard free-kick, 3-0.

United went into their shells after that, perhaps a little risky, but they managed to defend stoically as they held on for the 3-0 win and 3-2 on aggregate.

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