RvP Fires United Through

Robin van Persie netted a hat-trick as Manchester United overturned a two-goal first-leg deficit to reach the Champions League quarter-finals with a 3-0 win over Olympiakos.

Van Persie, who left the pitch on a stretcher late on, converted a first-half penalty and scored on the brink of half-time before he struck the final goal with a free-kick just after the restart.

The Theatre of Dreams turned into the scene of David Moyes' worst nightmare on Sunday when United lost 3-0 to Liverpool and questions arose about the manager's future.

But the United boss got everything spot on against the Greeks on Wednesday night.

The odds were against the United boss. The last time the Red Devils came back from 2-0 down in the first leg was 30 years ago when Bryan Robson inspired the team to a rousing 3-0 win over a Barcelona side that included Diego Maradona.

Tonight it was the turn of another United icon - Ryan Giggs - to boss the game.

Moyes' decision to deploy the 40-year-old in the middle of the park proved to be a masterstroke as he played a key role in the build-up to the first two goals and excelled throughout.

A battered and bloodied Antonio Valencia, who was given a black eye early in the first half, also put on a display that United's Captain Marvel would have been proud of.

Moyes, who received support from the Old Trafford crowd throughout, may have endured a terrible domestic season, but his European dream is still alive thanks to this impressive comeback.

The only thing that will worry Moyes is that his hat-trick hero was carried off on a stretcher late on with what looked like a knee injury.

More to follow...