Man Utd, Dortmund into Champions League quarters
Robin van Persie scored a hat-trick as Manchester United pulled off a stunning comeback to beat Olympiakos 3-0 and reach the Champions League quarter-finals.
Trailing 2-0 after the first leg in Greece last month, the win gave United a 3-2 aggregate victory and lifted the pressure on manager David Moyes.
Van Persie struck from the penalty spot in the 25th minute after he had been fouled by Jose Holebas.
And the Dutchman added the second in first-half injury-time with a tidy finish from Wayne Rooney’s cross, the second goal coming just five minutes after David De Gea had pulled off a fine double save to deny David Fuster and then Alejandro Dominguez.
Van Persie completed his hat-trick seven minutes into the second half with a free-kick into the left-hand corner.
In Germany, Borussia Dortmund, last season’s runners-up, lost 2-1 to Zenit St Petersburg but went through 5-4 on aggregate.
Hulk gave the Russians a 16th-minute lead before Borussia skipper Sebastian Kehl levelled with a 38th-minute header.
Zenit set up a thrilling finish when Jose Rondon slipped his marker in the 73rd minute to head home and make it 2-1 on the night.
Defending champions Bayern Munich, Spanish trio Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid, Chelsea and Paris Saint Germain had already qualified for the last eight.
The draw for the quarter-finals takes place at UEFA’s headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland on Friday.