EPL: Ronaldo bags a hatrick as Manchester United edge Tottenham 3-2
Cristiano Ronaldo scored a stunning hat-trick as Manchester United beat Tottenham 3-2 to strengthen their chances of making a top four finish this season.
United twice surrendered the lead following goals from Ronaldo, with a Harry Kane penalty and Harry Maguire own goal keeping them in touch.
But Ronaldo’s third and final strike of the game with less than ten minutes remaining earned them all three points in their hunt for a top-four finish.
After a relatively quiet start, the game exploded into life in the 12th minute when Ronaldo smashed in the opening goal from 25 yards, arrowing his strike into Hugo Lloris’ top
The goal should have sparked United into life, but they were almost pegged back when Ben Davies saw a goal disallowed for offside.
Read: Record Alert: Cristiano Ronaldo becomes the leading top scorer in football
Spurs were given a route back into the game 10 minutes before the break, when Alex Telles was adjudged to have handled a Dejan Kulusevski cross.
Kane made no mistake from the spot and it was just rewards, with the England captain pulling the strings from his deeper-lying position.
But Spurs’ parity lasted less than three months, with Ronaldo notching his second goal of the game from a Jadon Sancho cross.
However, United retreated deeper and deeper, unable to keep hold of possession and allowing the visitors to grow in confidence and with 20 minutes to go they were level for the second time when Sergio Reguilon’s cross was turned into his own net by Harry Maguire.
But like so many times in his remarkable career, Ronaldo wasn’t to be denied, completing his treble in the 82nd minute with a thumping header.
The win leaves United in fourth place in the Premier League table, although they have played four more games than Arsenal.
