Fernandes hat-trick fires Manchester United to 5-2 win over Ipswich

Abdullateef Fowewe

Manchester United bounced back from their opening-day defeat with a commanding 5-2 victory over newly promoted Ipswich Town at Old Trafford on Sunday, as captain Bruno Fernandes scored a hat-trick and provided an assist in a dominant second-half display.

Ipswich stunned the home crowd when Leif Davis opened the scoring in the 29th minute, finishing from Abdul Fatawu’s assist after United had made a sluggish start.

However, Fernandes restored parity five minutes before the break.

The Portuguese midfielder converted Matheus Cunha’s pass to ensure the sides went into half-time level at 1-1.

United seized control after the interval, with Jacob Greaves turning the ball into his own net in the 56th minute to hand Michael Carrick’s men the lead.

Fernandes then added his second from the penalty spot in the 61st minute before completing his hat-trick seven minutes later, capping an influential performance from the United skipper.

Bryan Mbeumo made it 5-1 in the 82nd minute after being set up by Fernandes, who finished the match with three goals and an assist.

Ipswich pulled one back in stoppage time through Chuba Akpom, who converted Julio Enciso’s delivery, but the late goal did little to alter the outcome as United sealed their first win of the 2026/27 Premier League campaign.

The match also marked Marcus Rashford’s first start for Manchester United in more than 626 days following loan spells at Aston Villa and Barcelona.

Rashford, who had not started a competitive match for the club since December 2024, was given a place in Carrick’s starting line-up and was substituted late in the second half.

The result will ease early pressure on United after their 2-0 loss to fellow promoted side Hull City in the opening round, while the emphatic nature of the win gave Old Trafford supporters renewed optimism about the team’s direction under Carrick.