RVP Hat-trick Spares United Blushes

RVP Hat-trick Spares United Blushes, Robin van Persie scored three for new club Man United to snatch a win against Southampton. RVP hat-trick breaks Southampton’s hearts, United trailed the match with just three minutes to go before a Van Persie double made up for an earlier penalty miss from the Dutchman when he was caught out for trying a cheeky chip.

His winner in stoppage time though was his 100th Premier League goal and made sure that Sir Alex Ferguson’s 1,000th league game in charge of Manchester United would be a memorable one.

It was tough luck on Southampton though who played superbly for most of the contest and were twice in front but they remain without a point in this their first Premier League season for seven years.

United started the match the brighter side and dominated possession in the early exchanges but Southampton then started to come into it after a nervy opening 10 minutes and in the 16th minute they took the lead.

Shinji Kagawa, who struggled with the pace of the game at times, was caught in possession in midfield. The ball was eventually played out to Jason Puncheon on the left and he stood up a fine cross to the back post. Waiting there was Rickie Lambert who peeled onto the mismatched Rafael before guiding his header into the corner of the net.

United levelled just seven minutes later courtesy of a trademark finish from Van Persie. The Dutch striker took Antonio Valencia’s cross from the right on his chest at the back post and then drilled the ball low into the opposite corner. He had all the time in the world to do so too after Nathaniel Clyne had slipped.

It wouldn’t be the only time Clyne would lose balance in such a way either. He was lucky later in the half when Patrice Evra was able to get a header on target after Clyne again lost his footing with Kelvin Davis this time getting him out of jail with a decent save.