United beat Olympiakos, thru’ in Champs League

MANCHESTER, Mar 20 (AP): Robin van Persie ushered Manchester United into the Champions League quarterfinals - and potentially saved his manager's job - with a hat trick in a 3-0 victory over Olympiakos that completed one of the competition's greatest comebacks on Wednesday.

On one of the memorable European nights at Old Trafford, Van Persie scored three times in a 27-minute span either side of halftime to overturn a 2-0 deficit from the first leg. A slew of brilliant saves by David de Gea were also key to a famous win for the English champions - and a vital one for their manager, David Moyes.

Moyes' position had come under intense scrutiny after United's humiliating 3-0 loss to fierce rival Liverpool in the Premier League on Sunday, the latest in a string of dreadful results in his first season in charge.

An early exit in Europe could have stretched the patience of fans and United's hierarchy beyond breaking point - but Moyes is left hoping this can be a watershed moment in his United career.

"I don't want to come out here and say this is the moment," Moyes said, "but at the same time, I really hope it is."

A nerve-shredding night ended with Olympiakos captain Giannis Maniatis on his knees and in floods of tears, and Moyes saluting home fans and wearing the broadest grin.

The under-fire United manager was saved by the goal-scoring qualities of Van Persie, who converted a penalty in the 25th minute, side-footed home his second goal in first-half injury time and curled in a free kick in the 52nd. And he also had words of praise for Ryan Giggs, who at the age of 40 delivered a tireless performance in midfield.

Giggs lasted the full match, despite having played only 81 minutes since Jan. 7, and played a crucial role in Van Persie's first two goals.

"His all-round play was very good," Moyes said. "He defies his age."

Van Persie was carried off on a stretcher in the final minutes after hurting his leg in a challenge but Moyes said he didn't think it was a serious injury.

Olympiakos slumped to its 12th straight away defeat in England and missed out on securing a place in the last eight for the first time since 1999.

The Greek champions had their chances - some of De Gea's saves were breathtaking - but defensively they were chaotic and they became only the sixth team to squander a two-goal lead from the first leg of a Champions League match.

"We were unlucky," Olympiakos midfielder David Fuster said, "and we're pretty upset about it."

In Wednesday's other last-16 match, Borussia Dortmund advanced 5-4 on aggregate despite losing the second leg 2-1 at home to Zenit St.  Petersburg. The draw for the quarterfinals is held on Friday.