Ronaldo hat-trick gives United 3-2 win

Agencies

MANCHESTER: Cristiano Ronaldo’s 50th club career hattrick earned below-par Manchester United a 3-2 Premier League victory over Norwich City on Saturday amid scenes of fan protest at Old Trafford.

A first-half double from veteran striker Ronaldo seemingly put the hosts on course for a comfortable win in the sunshine, with Norwich struggling to keep pace.

However, Kieran Dowell’s goal out of nowhere in first-half stoppage time got the visitors back in the contest, before Finnish forward Teemu Pukki completed the Norwich comeback to stun Old Trafford into silence seven minutes after the break.

Fans who protested against the club’s owners ahead of the

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match were singing “you’re not fit to wear the shirt” in the second half as their team were second best to a team seven points adrift of the Premier League safety zone.

United’s Paul Pogba was booed by his own fans as he was substituted before Ronaldo stole the show once again with a

sensational winner 14 minutes from time to drag United out of the mire once more. The win moved United into fifth on 54 points from 32 matches.

Arsenal’s top-four hopes take a hit after defeat LONDON: Southampton ended a five-match winless run with a 1-0 win over Arsenal at St Mary’s Stadium, dealing further damage to the visitors’ hopes of finishing inside the top four in this season.

Mikel Arteta’s side has slipped to sixth place in the standings on 54 points, level with Manchester United and three behind north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur but with a game in hand over both the teams.

Spurs lose to Brighton after Trossard winner Elsewhere, Tottenham Hotspur blew a chance to strengthen their grip on fourth place in the standings as they suffered a 1-0 home defeat by Brighton & Hove Albion thanks to Leandro Trossard’s decisive 90th-minute winner.

The North London side remains at fourth spot with 57 points from 32 matches.

REUTERS

AFP