Bruno Fernandes hat-trick sinks Ipswich as Man Utd win 5-2

The Old Trafford Comeback

Manchester United beat Ipswich Town 5-2 at Old Trafford in the Premier League, England's top football division, after falling behind to a Leif Davis opener.

Bruno Fernandes, United's captain, scored three times, in the 40th, 61st and 68th minutes, according to the Guardian. A Jacob Greaves own goal after 56 minutes and Bryan Mbeumo's strike in the 82nd minute completed the home scoring, while Chuka Akpom's added-time finish gave Ipswich their second.

The Guardian reports it was the first time United had scored five goals in a Premier League match since the opening day of the 2021-22 season, a 5-1 home win over Leeds United that also featured a Fernandes hat-trick.

Fernandes at the Centre

The BBC reports that Fernandes was largely anonymous in the early stages before firing home an equaliser. The move followed Ipswich's Marcelino Nunez slipping under no pressure, which let Matheus Cunha run clear and set up the captain.

His second was a penalty in front of the Stretford End to make it 3-1 after an hour, a shot the BBC notes carried personal pressure given Fernandes missed two penalties in pre-season. He completed the hat-trick, his third for United, seven minutes later.

He also went close with an audacious 55-yard attempt straight after the restart, with goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen backpedalling before the ball landed on top of the net.

Context and Reaction

The win followed a 2-0 defeat at Hull City on the opening weekend, in which the BBC says Fernandes was one of many United players well below par. On the Tuesday before the Ipswich game, he collected the Professional Footballers' Association Players' Player of the Year award, having also won the Football Writers' award. Last season he recorded a Premier League record of 21 assists.

Manager Michael Carrick, who has been in the job six or seven months by his own account, praised his players' response. "You've got to deal with setbacks," he said. "Showing stubbornness, belief, confidence, and togetherness the boys showed at that stage, I think that was really pleasing for me."

Fernandes, who has captained the side since January 2020, said: "It was a massive result. We lost three points last week. First game at home, the fans have been waiting for this."

The BBC notes that Marcus Rashford started his first Premier League game for United since December 2024 and that Kobbie Mainoo was also in the starting line-up. Before kick-off, Fernandes walked on to the pitch with the sons of PC Matthew Blades, who was killed in a head-on collision on the A66 near Middlesbrough. Heavy rain and thunder arrived late in the game, with water coming through a leak in the stadium roof.