Cristiano Ronaldo saves Manchester United with hat trick

Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo. PA Images/Alamy Images

Cristiano Ronaldo rescues Manchester United with hat trick vs. Norwich City

By Adam Stites | Last updated Apr 16, 2022 2:18 PM ET

Manchester United got three much-needed points Saturday to move into fifth place on the Premier League table, thanks to a stellar day from striker Cristiano Ronaldo against Norwich City.

Ronaldo, 37, recorded his second hat trick of the season to lead United to a 3-2 win against last-place Norwich. He now has 99 career goals in the Premier League, 33rd most all-time, and 50 career hat tricks in club play.

United jumped out to a 2-0 lead early with goals in the seventh and 32nd minutes from Ronaldo, but flirted with disaster when Norwich City equalized with a goal just before halftime and another in the 52nd minute. Ronaldo came to the rescue in the 76th minute when he blasted a spectacular free kick past Norwich goalkeeper Tim Krul.

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 was just Manchester United's second in its last six Premier League matches. The only other win for the club during its rough stretch -- which also included elimination from the UEFA Champions League -- came in March when Ronaldo recorded a hat trick in a 3-2 win against Tottenham Hotspur.

On Saturday, United got help when Brighton beat Tottenham, 1-0, and Southampton beat Arsenal, 1-0. With the trio of results, Man U moved ahead of West Ham on the table and into a tie with Arsenal for fifth. United is now just three points behind Tottenham for fourth and a spot in the Champions League.

In the next week, United has a pair of tough matches against Liverpool and Arsenal.

Adam Stites

Adam Stites is a Southern California native who lives in a new state every three months. He’s perennially disappointed by both the Jacksonville Jaguars and Arizona State Sun Devils. His dog is named Ramsey after the best cornerback in the NFL

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