LONDON: Robin van Persie struck twice late on to complete his hat-trick and seal a dramatic 3-2 victory for Manchester United over Southampton in the Premier League on Sunday.
The Dutch striker’s earlier penalty miss with his side trailing 2-1 looked to have condemned United to a second defeat in their opening three league games but he made amends with two poacher’s goals in the dying minutes.
Van Persie’s thumping 92nd-minute header was his 100th Premier League goal and his fourth in three appearances for United.
Earlier, Lukas Podolski, the man tasked with filling the prolific Dutchman’s boots for Arsenal, opened his account in English football in a 2-0 victory at Liverpool. It was Arsenal’s first win, and first goals, of the season after two 0-0 draws, while Liverpool’s solitary point from their opening three fixtures is their worst start for 50 years.
In the day’s other match, Newcastle United were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Aston Villa, leaving Southampton as the only top-flight side still without a point.
“He’s got four goals in two starts which is a great statistic and he’ll get better,” United manager Alex Ferguson, whose side climbed to fifth with six points, said.
Newly-promoted Southampton had taken the lead after 16 minutes when Rickie Lambert climbed high to head past Anders Lindegaard after United had lost possession in midfield.
Van Persie levelled eight minutes later, chesting down Antonio Valencia’s pass and smashing left-footed past Davis.
United never looked secure at the back, though, and Schneiderlin headed Lambert’s cross past Lindegaard after 56 minutes, finding himself unmarked following Evra’s slip.
After Van Persie’s penalty miss the home fans were preparing to celebrate a famous win, only for Van Persie to ruin the party. First he prodded home from close range after Rio Ferdinand’s header rebounded off the post.
Then, deep into added time, he made sublime contact with a corner to flash a header past Davis.
“We were a bit lucky with the 2-2 and the dramatic end,” Van Persie said.
“I have to say a big thank you to Paul Scholes… Every single pass he hit was the right one.”
When Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard gave the ball away after 31 minutes at Anfield, Arsenal swept down the other end in a flash and Santi Corzola played a perfect pass for Podolski.
“Overall, I am pleased with the quality of our performance,” Wenger told the club’s website. “Everybody understood very quickly that Cazorla would not take six months to settle and Podolski is deadly when there is a chance.” (Reuters)