During his five years as a Manchester United player, Ruud van Nistelrooy found the net 150 times from his 219 outings in all competitions.
Eleven of that haul came at the expense of Newcastle United, whom the Dutchman faced on just 10 occasions throughout his stint in England. So, it will come as little surprise to learn that when the Magpies visited Old Trafford 13 years ago today, Van Nistelrooy was among the goals in what was a high-scoring contest.
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However, it was not the clinical frontman that broke the deadlock for the home side in the 25th minute, although he did start the move with a lofted pass out wide for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
The Norwegian showed great athleticism and balance to bring the ball under control, before he scampered away from Aaron Hughes's sliding challenge. His pull back was perfect for the advancing Paul Scholes, who lashed his shot into the roof of Shay Given's net.
The visitors were level 10 minutes later when Olivier Bernard's intended cross deceived United goalkeeper Fabien Barthez's as it flew inside the Frenchman's far post, but within three minutes, Sir Alex Ferguson's men were back in front courtesy of Van Nistelrooy.
A deflection on Mikael Silvestre's cross from the left wing diverted the ball into the corridor of uncertainty between Given and his defenders, which left Van Nistelrooy with a routine headed finish.
He was then in the right place at the right time again in the 45th minute to give the Red Devils a 3-1 lead at the break. Diego Forlan's scuffed shot was almost certainly trickling wide of the target, only for Van Nistelrooy to turn the ball goalwards from six yards out.
Goals continued to be scored at a rapid rate during a second half that also saw a couple of milestones reached. First Alan Shearer rocketed in his 100th Premier League goal in Newcastle colours in the 52nd minute.
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Yet, just as they had done before the break, United hit back swiftly. Forlan tricked his way to the byline, from where he crossed for Van Nistelrooy to complete his hat-trick. The centre-forward was not even halfway through his second season as a United player, yet that was already his 50th goal for the club.
It was then over to Solskjaer - the creator of the first goal. His collision with Hughes went unpunished and the number 20 took full advantage as he produced a calmly taken finish to beat Given.
An unmarked Craig Bellamy glanced in a third goal for Newcastle 15 minutes from time, but that was to be the end of the scoring as the Van Nistelrooy-inspired hosts recorded a 5-3 victory.
Man United: Barthez; O'Shea, Brown, Blanc (Roche), Silvestre; Solskjaer, Scholes, Fortune, Giggs; Forlan (Veron), van Nistelrooy (Richardson)
Newcastle: Given; Griffin, Dabizas, O'Brien, Hughes; Jenas, Dyer, Speed, Bernard (Solano); Shearer, Bellamy
Liam Apicella
