MANCHESTER — Cristiano Ronaldo's 50th club career hat-trick and second Premier League treble of the season earned below-par Manchester United a 3-2 victory over Norwich City on Saturday.
With Tottenham Hotspur losing 1-0 at home to Brighton & Hove Albion earlier on Saturday, the door was open for United to close in on the Champions League qualification places with victory over bottom side Norwich and they just about took advantage.
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.
Ronaldo opens the scoring for Manchester United!
: @USA_Network & @NBCUniverso #MUNNOR | #MyPLMorning
(via @TelemundoSports)pic.twitter.com/dCAP2tLJwg— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) April 16, 2022
He is the tactic.
Ronaldo's header gives Man United a 2-0 lead! And Ronaldo hit the 360 siuuu.: @USA_Network & @NBCUniverso #MUNBUR | #MyPLMorning
(via @TelemundoSports) pic.twitter.com/xzRTyYS5n4— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) April 16, 2022
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.
Norwich aren't out of it yet!
Kieran Dowell has a free header at the back post and Norwich get one back before the half.: @USA_Network & @NBCUniverso #MUNNOR | #MyPLMorning pic.twitter.com/4wjslzN0Ld
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) April 16, 2022
Pukki levels the match for Norwich at Old Trafford!
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) April 16, 2022
Fans who protested against the club's owners ahead of the 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 France midfielder 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.
RONALDO WITH THE BRILLIANT FREE KICK FOR HIS 50TH CLUB HAT TRICK!
Manchester United take a 3-2 lead.
: @USA_Network & @NBCUniverso #MUNNOR | #MyPLMorning pic.twitter.com/ZkCLVUfBbP— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) April 16, 2022
The win, United's first in four games in all competitions, moved them above Arsenal, who lost 1-0 at Southampton, into fifth on 54 points from 32 matches, with Spurs now just three points in front. Norwich stay bottom on 21 points.
Thousands of fans protested outside the stadium before the match against the Glazer family ownership, chanting "get out of our club", among other things, with many not inside to see Ronaldo break the deadlock seven minutes in.
One player has been immune to fan criticism, and for good reason, as against the run of play, Ronaldo arrowed his 21st goal of the season past Tim Krul to win it for United to revive their hopes of securing a top-four finish.
(Reporting by Peter Hall; Editing by Ken Ferris and Christian Radnedge)