MANCHESTER, England (AP) β Robin van Persie scored a hat trick that boosted Manchester United over Olympiakos 3-0 Wednesday night and into the Champions League quarterfinals on 3-2 aggregate.
The Dutch forward converted a penalty kick in the 25th minute, side-footed in his second goal in first-half injury time and curled a free kick past goalkeeper Roberto in the 51st.
With Manchester United seventh in the Premier League and first-year manager David Moyes under intense criticism, winning the Champions League likely is the only chance the team has to qualify for next year’s edition of Europe’s top club tournament.
Borussia Dortmund, defeated by German rival Bayern Munich in last year’s final, lost 2-1 at home to Zenit St. Petersburg but advanced on 5-4 aggregate.
Hulk put Zenit ahead in the 16th minute, Sebastian Kehl tied the score in the 38th and substitute Jose Rondon got the go-ahead goal in the 73rd. Dortmund forward Robert Lewandowski will be suspended for the first leg of the quarterfinals for yellow-card accumulation.
Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid also are in the quarterfinal draw Friday.
