Star forward Wayne Rooney scored a hat trick Saturday and ended a 10-match goal drought to lead Manchester United to a 4-0 win at Bolton in English Premier league soccer action.
Rooney's goals were his first since scoring twice in United's season-opening 5-1 victory over Fulham on Aug. 20.
"There has been a lot of talk by a lot of people over the last few weeks saying I couldn't do it any more, stuff like that, so the feeling when the first goal went in was brilliant," Rooney said.
"To finish the hat trick was nice. I am delighted and happy just to be back among the goals again and to have secured the three points in what was a big game for us."
Portuguese winger Cristiano Ronaldo scored the other goal for United, who by virtue of their victory maintained their spot atop the standings with 25 points.
Two-time defending champion Chelsea also has 25 points, but United is in first because of a better goal difference ratio.
Bolton is third with 20 points, followed by Portsmouth (19) and Arsenal (18).
"Chelsea have laid down a marker, but we want to challenge them," United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said. "There is a growing confidence within the club, we are looking very strong and we will have a good go."
Chelsea defeated Sheffield United 2-0 Saturday on goals by Frank Lampard and German midfielder Michael Ballack.
Against Bolton, Rooney opened the scoring in the 10th minute on a cross by Michael Carrick. He scored six minutes later when he curled a shot past Bolton goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen.
'Magnificent goals'
Ronaldo netted United's third goal before Rooney completed his hat trick in the 89th minute.
"Apart from the third goal, there was very little we could do to stop him," Bolton manager Sam Allardyce said. "The first two were magnificent goals made of outstanding quality."
Rooney's first career hat trick came two years ago in his Champions League debut against Turkish club Fenerbahce.
with files from Associated PressRelated
Internal Links
More Soccer Headlines »
- Inter Milan survives AC Milan comeback
- Inter Milan took a three-goal lead and only barely held on to beat rival AC Milan 4-3 in Italy's biggest derby Saturday, extending its lead atop Serie A.
- Canada wins at soccer's Peace Queen Cup
- Christine Sinclair of Burnaby, B.C., scored two first-half goals on Saturday as Canada posted a 3-2 win over Italy in the Peace Queen Cup, a women's soccer tournament being staged in Seoul.
- Wayne Rooney nets hat trick for Man U
- Star forward Wayne Rooney scored a hat trick Saturday and ended a 10-match goal drought to lead Manchester United to a 4-0 win at Bolton in English Premier league soccer action.
- Juventus has points penalty reduced
- Turin-based soccer club Juventus and two other teams implicated in a match-fixing scandal had their points penalties reduced by an Italian sports tribunal on Friday.
- Chelsea goalie doesn't remember collision
- Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech said Friday he can't remember the incident that left him with a fractured skull.
More Sports Headlines »
- Man arrested in Berbick slaying
- A 20-year-old man was arrested Sunday in connection with the murder of former heavyweight and Canadian boxing champion Trevor Berbick.
- Canada golden at short track WC
- Canadian speed skaters continued their medal haul Sunday, winning two gold medals and a silver at the short track World Cup event in Jeonju, South Korea.
- Coyotes land Perreault
- Free-agent centre Yanic Perreault signed a one-year, $700,000 US contract with the Phoenix Coyotes on Sunday.
- Kilrea gets 1,100th junior win
- Junior hockey coaching legend Brian Kilrea reached another milestone Sunday, recording his 1,100th career victory as his Ottawa 67's defeated the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in OHL action.
- Nestor, Knowles win Swiss title
- Toronto's Daniel Nestor and partner Mark Knowles of the Bahamas won a hard-fought doubles title Sunday at the Swiss Indoors tennis event in Basel, Switzerland.
