Manchester United 5-2 Ipswich: Fernandes hat-trick seals comeback win for United | OneFootball

Manchester United picked up their first win of the season this afternoon, thumping Ipswich 5-2 at Old Trafford thanks to a hat-trick from Bruno Fernandes.

Leif Davis gave Ipswich the lead just shy of the half hour mark when he connected with Abdul Fatawu’s cross before drilling the ball into the roof of the net. Fernandes and Matheus Cunha combined before half-time to bring the score level with a beautiful counterattack.

United took the lead when Harry Maguire’s thunderous strike was turned into the bottom corner by Jacob Greaves. Moments later, Greaves gave away a penalty which was duely converted by Fernandes to double their advantage with an hour on the clock. Three quickly became four when Fernandes completed his hat-trick seven minutes later, rounding off a nice move with a clever finish past Scherpen and into the bottom corner.

Bryan Mbeumo got in on the action and netted the fifth for United by lifting the ball over Scherpen and into the back of the net. Ipswich got a consolation goal in injury time when Chuba Akpom tapped the ball into an empty net, but that’s all it was in the end.

As it happened

The headline news in the Manchester United side was that Marcus Rashford started his first Premier League game for over a year, replacing Patrick Dorgu. There were three other changes to the XI, with Lisandro Martinez, Diogo Dalot and Kobbie Mainoo replacing Andrey Santos, Ayden Heavan and Noussair Mazraoui. Meanwhile Gary O’Neil named an unchanged Ipswich side from their win over Sunderland on opening weekend.

Rashford danced through the Ipswich defence inside the opening 10 minutes before laying the ball off to Matheus Cunha on the edge of the box, who fired high and wide with the first chance of the game.

Dalot reigstered the first shot on target of the match in the 12th minute, when he chopped onto his left foot before forcing a superb save from Kjell Scherpen. Julio Enciso nearly gave Ipswich the lead after a rapid counterattack from the resultant United corner, but he was ultimately denied by a great save from Senne Lammens.

Ipswich continued to threaten when Davis played a brilliant through ball to send Daizen Maeda in behind the United defence, but the Japanese forward’s strike was well saved by Lammens. At the other end of the pitch, Maeda brought down Cunha on the edge of the area, presenting Fernandes with an excellent opportunity to strike, but he failed to beat the wall.

It was Davis who gave Ipswich the lead just shy of the half hour mark by connecting with Fatawu’s cross before opening his body up and drilling the ball into the roof of the net. He nearly netted a second mere moments later, striking the ball on the volley at the back post and forcing Lammens to tip it over the bar.

Sasa Lukic was shown the first yellow card of the match shortly after, when he fouled Youri Tielemans in the middle of the park. He was quickly joined by Fatawu after a full-blooded challenge on Bryan Mbeumo inside the centre circle.

Fernandes and Cunha combined shortly after to bring the score level with a beautiful counterattack after Marcelino Nuñez slipped and lost the ball, meaning the two sides went in at the break with the score at 1-1. Ipswich introduced Chuba Akpom at half-time, with Emersonn making way.

Enciso drove towards goal early in the second half before firing a long-range strike over the bar. Mbeumo looked certain to give United the lead shortly after, connecting with Rashford’s cross just two yards out from goal but somehow managing to hit the crossbar instead of finding the back of the net.

They did take the lead in the 55th minute however, when Maguire’s thunderous strike was turned into the bottom corner by Greaves. A VAR check followed for a potential handball, but it was cleared due to the fact Maguire’s shot was not on target.

Moments later, Greaves gave away a penalty when he brought down Cunha, who had broke clean through on goal. Fernandes stepped up to the spot and calmly converted to double the Red Devils lead with an hour on the clock. Nuñez was then replaced by Exequiel Palacios for the visitors.

Three quickly became four when Fernandes completed his hat-trick seven minutes later, rounding off a nice move with a clever finish past Scherpen and into the bottom corner. Changes for both sides followed, with United introducing Leny Yoro and Mazraoui for Luke Shaw and Dalot, whilst Ipswich replaced Lukic and Maeda with Darnell Furlong and Abdoul Ouattara.

More chances followed for the hosts, with Fernandes denied by a superb block before Scherpen kept out Cunha’s low effort. Mainoo, Cunha and Rashford were then withdrawn in favour of Benjamin Sesko, Dorgu and Santos.

Mbeumo netted the fifth for United when he was released in behind the defence by a brilliant ball from Fernandes, before taking the perfect first touch and lifting the ball over Scherpen and into the back of the net.

United came close to adding a sixth when Dorgu cut the ball back across the face of goal, but nobody was able to add the finishing touch.

Ipswich got a consolation goal in injury time when Akpom tapped the ball into an empty net after Martinez lost it in a dangerous area. Mbeumo picked up a yellow card in the 93rd minute, after committing a foul in a wide area. Davis delivered the resultant free-kick, but it was easily collected by Lammens.

The remaining few minutes rather passed both teams by, as United cruised to victory in the end.