Manchester United 3-0 Olympiakos (Agg 3-2): Van Persie hat-trick seals dramatic comeback
Robin van Persie scored a hat-trick to lead Manchester United to a 3-2 aggregate victory over Olympiacosin the Champions League this evening.
Wayne Rooney struck the post inside the opening 20 minutes as the home side look to get back into the match, having lost the first leg 2-0 in Anthens.
However, David Moyes's team were able to edge ahead on the night when Van Persie was brought down by Jose Holebas, setting the Dutch international up for a goal from the spot.
David de Gea pulled off a double save to keep the hosts ahead towards the end of the first half, parrying aDavid Fuster header before denying Alejandro Dominguez.
Van Persie was able to get United back on level terms on aggregate just before half time, calmly slotting in from a Rooney cross.
Van Persie completed his hat-trick shortly after the restart, curling the ball past Roberto Gago with a free kick from just outside the box, leaving the Olympiacos keeper rooted to the spot.
The visitors almost got one back just a few minutes later as a Dominguez strike deflected off the United goalscorer, but drifted just wide.
De Gea had to remain alert for United, as Holebas unleashed a powerful strike, knowing that an away goal would be valuable for the Greek champions, but he could not get the better of the Spanish keeper.
The visitors continued to press hard as they sought to get back on level terms on aggregate, but De Gea continued to frustrate Dominguez, while Phil Jones turned a dangerous ball into the box behind for a late corner.
Rooney had a chance to put the result beyond doubt late on, but his powerful strike from the edge of the box went just wide.
Van Persie was forced to exit the game early, after sustaining a leg injury late on, and had to leave the pitch on the stretcher.
Patrice Evra will miss the first leg of the quarter-final, after receiving a yellow card in the second half.
Borussia Dortmund 1-2 Zenit (agg 5-4): Hulk stunner not enough to halt Klopp's men
Borussia Dortmund have secured their place in the quarter-finals of the Champions League with a 5-4 win over Zenit St Petersburg, despite losing 2-1 to the Russian side this evening.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Robert Lewandowski both had early chances for the hosts, but the Gabon international headed over from just a couple of yards out, while the striker was denied by Vyacheslav Malafeev.
Despite Dortmund's bright start to the match, it was the visitors that broke the deadlock when Hulk lashed the ball into the top corner from 30 yards out.
Kevin Grosskreutz tried to level the scores with his own long-range effort, but it was Sebastian Kehl who managed to find the equaliser just before the break, heading in low from a Marcel Schmelzer cross.
Axel Witsel was involved early on in the second half, trying to create a second for the visitors, but his cross failed to find any of his teammates.
The hosts seemed to be taking control of the possession with less than 20 minutes to go, but Jose Rondon came off the bench to restore Zenit's lead, nodding the ball beyond Roman Weidenfeller.
Hulk and Witsel continued to apply the pressure late on, but the visitors were unable to force a third before the end of the match, ensuring that Dortmund progress 5-4 on aggregate.
The Bundesliga side will be without Lewandowski for the first leg of the quarter-finals, as he picked up a booking in the first half.
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