Rooney hat-trick revives Manchester United
Saturday, April 2, 2011
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Manchester United FC now lie seven points clear in the Premier League after Wayne Rooney's hat-trick inspired a 4-2 comeback win at West Ham United FC and Arsenal FC could only draw.
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Wayne Rooney scored a second-half hat-trick as Manchester United FC came from 2-0 down to beat West Ham United FC 4-2 and stretch their lead at the top of the Premier League to seven points.
The London side led 2-0 at the break thanks to a pair of Mark Noble penalties, but Rooney got United back into the game on 65 minutes. Two more strikes in the next 14 minutes – his third, a penalty, bringing up his century of Premier League goals for the club – turned the game around. Half-time substitute Javier Hernández then completed the scoring with six minutes left as United increased their lead over Arsenal FC, who could only draw 0-0 at home against ten-man Blackburn Rovers FC, the visitors losing Steven N'Zonzi to a 76th-minute red card.
Third-placed Chelsea FC also lost ground on the leaders and had to be thankful for a Didier Drogba strike in their 1-1 draw at Stoke City FC, while Tottenham Hotspur FC, in fourth, drew 0-0 at Wigan Athletic FC. West Bromwich Albion FC manager Roy Hodgson got the better of his former side Liverpool FC 2-1, as a pair of Chris Brunt penalties eased the victors' relegation worries.
Newcastle United FC were they day's biggest winners, 4-1 at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers FC, while Birmingham City FC beat Bolton Wanderers FC 2-1 and Aston Villa drew 2-2 at Everton FC.