Updated: Wednesday, 19 Mar 2014 22:11 | Comments Robin van Persie scores the opening goal from a penalty kick The Olympiakos goalkeeper Roberto watches on as Robin van Persie completes his hat-trick with a fine free kick Video Audio A stunning Robin van Persie hat-trick was enough to put Manchester United into the quarter-finals of the Champions League and relieve the pressure on their beleaguered manager David Moyes. 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 of the 3-0 win with a free-kick just after the restart. The win meant that United saw off the challenge of Olympiakos 3-2 on aggregate. The Theatre of Dreams
Tag: hattrick
Soldado hits hat-trick for Tottenham
Updated: Thursday, 12 Dec 2013 22:39 | Comments Roberto Soldado hit a hat-trick for Tottenham Roberto Soldado kick-started his Tottenham career with a sublime hat-trick to make it six wins from six for Andre Villas-Boas in the Europa League as they saw off Anzhi Makhachkala 4-1. Soldado had struggled since his £26million move from Valencia in the summer, scoring just once from open play in the Barclays Premier League, but he tore Anzhi apart on Thursday night as Spurs ran out easy 4-1 winners at White Hart Lane. Soldado glanced Gylfi Sigurdsson's shot beyond Evgeni Pomazan and he beat the Anzhi goalkeeper again from close range before scoring from the spot for the fourth time this season to seal his hat-trick. Kyle Naughton's mistake
Hat-trick for Gilroy as Ireland hammer Fiji
Updated: Saturday, 17 Nov 2012 21:48 Chris Henry drives at the Fiji defence Video Audio Craig Gilroy starred for eight-try Ireland as they destroyed Fiji 53-0 at Thomond Park. The Irish select XV scored four tries in each half to snap an international losing streak of five matches. Fergus McFadden chipped in with two tries and there was a try a piece for Sean Cronin, Darren Cave and Luke Marshall. Gilroy was the undoubted man-of-the-match, however, and he capped an excellent outing with an 80-metre breakaway, hat-trick try. AS IT HAPPENED GALLERY Ireland took an early lead when referee Leighton Hodges penalised the Fijians for going offside. Paddy Jackson slotted the sixth-minute penalty over. Three minutes later and the home crowd were celebrating the first try of the night as