Bruno Fernandes scored a hat-trick as Manchester United came from behind to beat Ipswich 5-2 at Old Trafford and pick up their first win of the season.
It looked like being a difficult afternoon for Michael Carrick's team early on. Julio Enciso and Daizen Maeda both forced smart stops from Senne Lammens before Abdul Fatawu skinned Luke Shaw and fed Leif Davis to side-foot the opener high into the United net.
Old Trafford was edgy at that point, with United having lost to Hull on the opening weekend. But the game turned when Marcelino Nunez slipped over. Matheus Cunha robbed the Chilean midfielder and found Fernandes, who slammed the ball home with his left foot.
Bryan Mbeumo should have completed the turnaround early in the second half only to strike the bar from close range, but United did not have to wait long. Their second was not without controversy, however, as Harry Maguire escaped punishment for a handball.
Had his shot gone straight into the net then it would have been disallowed but because the attempt was diverted in by Jacob Greaves, it was allowed to stand. Moments later, United took the game away from Ipswich as Greaves' unfortunate afternoon continued.
The defender brought down Cunha when he was through on goal, and Fernandes, who had missed twice from the spot during pre-season, converted the penalty. It was party time thereafter, with Fernandes completing his hat-trick by slotting home in the 68th minute.
The skipper was not done. A wedged pass in behind found Mbeumo, who lobbed the goalkeeper to make it five. As the rain came down, Ipswich did pull one back in stoppage time through substitute Chuba Akpom but it was far too little and far too late.
With academy graduates Kobbie Mainoo and Marcus Rashford back in the starting line-up - in Rashford's case, for the first time since 2024 - there was a real mood of optimism inside the stadium at the end. Not perfect. But Manchester United's firepower is clear.
29 - GOAL! Fatawu skins Shaw and Davis finishes high into the net
40 - GOAL! Nunez slips and Cunha feeds Fernandes to equalise
52 - BAR! Mbeumo volleys against the bar from close range
56 - GOAL! Maguire's shot is deflected into his own net by Greaves
61 - GOAL! Fernandes converts a penalty after Cunha is fouled
68 - GOAL! Fernandes slots home to complete his hat-trick
82 - GOAL! Fernandes puts Mbeumo through to lob the keeper
90+1 - GOAL! Consolation as Martinez is robbed and Akpom scores
It is an offence if a player scores in the opponents' goal:
Following an accidental handball by the attacker:
"Without a shadow of a doubt, United's best signing in the post-Ferguson era," said Gary Neville on co-commentary for Your Site. No need for the caveat, really. This is one of the great Manchester United signings and one of the great Manchester United players.
There has been a bit of chatter about Bruno Fernandes recently given that he cleaned up with the awards for last season, adding the PFA prize to his FWA award. But this performance was a timely reminder that there is no better player in the Premier League.
Three goals and an assist when United needed him. And they do always seem to need him. It is the mentality as well as the magic in his boots. Amusingly, he was furious with himself in the 89th minute when an outside-of-the-boot cross failed to beat the first man.
Had Fernandes scored with one outrageous attempt from inside the centre-circle before that, then it really would have been a truly great display to remember. As it is, he had to settle for merely being the match-winner yet again. United's talisman.
Man Utd head coach Michael Carrick speaking to Your Site:
"We'll take a few more of them [hat-tricks]. He showed his quality today. Through the middle of the pitch, particularly Youri, Kobbi and Matheus played some really good football.
"Bruno's done what he's good at. He's won awards this week and bounced back from last week. Three goals, fantastic performance.
"We're not getting carried away. We weren't overly down last week, everything wasn't wrong. It was something we can improve on. Today, there are still things we can get better at.
"The result was great. We haven't cracked it, there's a long way to go and we'll get ready for next week."
Ipswich boss Gary O'Neil speaking to Your Site:
"To beat Manchester United at Old Trafford, you need the moments to go in your favour. They didn't. A couple went against us, and then we weren't good enough in the end for the last half-hour to get a hold of the game and make it look how it did at the start.
"We lost control of the momentum. That's the bit we'll focus on, really, trying to improve that because it can happen. People can slip, referees can make decisions, rules can go against you, or there can be a deflection.
"There are lots of things that can happen in a game that are beyond your control. It's then how we respond to that for the last half-hour that we need to get better at."
