Bruno Fernandes scored a hat-trick to lead Manchester United's comeback win over Ipswich, as the Red Devils overturned an early deficit to win 5-2 and kick-start their Premier League campaign.
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Bruno Fernandes scored a hat-trick to lead Manchester United's comeback win over Ipswich, as the Red Devils overturned an early deficit to win 5-2 and kick-start their Premier League campaign.
Following last weekend's disappointing 2-0 loss to Hull, United found themselves under pressure again against another newly promoted side, falling behind after Leif Davis put Ipswich ahead.
Fernandes responded by equalizing before halftime, then converted a penalty after Jacob Greaves turned the ball into his own net to put United in front. He completed his hat-trick with a close-range finish before setting up Bryan Mbeumo to cap off a strong individual performance.
Manager Michael Carrick made four changes from the side that opened the season poorly eight days earlier, handing Marcus Rashford his first start for the club in nearly two years. Rashford's return, along with that of fellow England international Kobbie Mainoo, made a noticeable difference, though United again leaned heavily on Fernandes to unlock the game going forward. Defensive concerns persisted, however goalkeeper Senne Lammens denied Julio Enciso one-on-one after he broke away from a United corner, shortly before Ipswich took the lead in the 29th minute when Abdul Fatawu beat Luke Shaw for pace and delivered a cross that Davis expertly headed home. Ipswich's left-back nearly doubled the lead moments later, but his effort was comfortably saved by Lammens.
United turned the game around after a mistake from Marcelino Nunez gifted possession to Matheus Cunha, who set up Fernandes to finish with his weaker left foot. Ipswich suffered further misfortune early in the second half when a shot deflected in off Harry Maguire's arm before bouncing off Greaves and into the net — the goal stood since the deflection, not the handball, was what sent it in. Shortly after, Greaves brought down Cunha as he charged toward goal, and Fernandes calmly converted the resulting penalty.
Fernandes, recently named his fellow professionals' Player of the Year after registering a Premier League-record 21 assists last season despite scoring just nine goals, is already making rapid progress toward matching that output, completing his hat-trick by pouncing on a deflected Mbeumo effort. He then turned provider once more, threading a pass for Mbeumo to chip the ball over Ipswich's towering goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen.
United's strong attacking display was bookended by defensive lapses, as Ipswich grabbed a stoppage-time consolation goal when Lisandro Martinez was dispossessed by Enciso, who squared the ball for Chuba Akpom to tap into an empty net.
