Robin van Persie's hat-trick lifted the gloom surrounding Manchester United as they beat Olympiakos Piraeus 3-0 to reach the Champions League quarter-finals last night.
Van Persie began his side's comeback with a 25th-minute penalty, awarded after he was shoved in the back by Jose Holebas.
He levelled the tie on aggregate in first-half stoppage time, steering in Wayne Rooney's cross. Van Persie completed his hat-trick with a free kick six minutes after the break.
Borussia Dortmund lost 2-1 to visitors Zenit St Petersburg last night but advanced 5-4 on aggregate to reach the Champions League quarterfinals for the second successive season.
Dortmund fell a goal behind when Hulk thundered Zenit into the lead in the 16th minute. Dortmund captain Sebastian Kehl settled the hosts' nerves when he headed in the equaliser in the 38th minute.
But the visitors retook the lead in the 72nd minute through substitute Jose Rondon's diving header.
Dortmund held on in a scrappy finale and the 2-1 defeat was enough to send them into the last eight as the second German team along with Bayern Munich.
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