Manchester United bounced back from their opening-day defeat at Hull in emphatic fashion, thrashing Ipswich Town 5-2 at Old Trafford as captain Bruno Fernandes produced a virtuoso hat-trick just days after being crowned PFA Player of the Year.
The result, secured under torrential rain in the closing stages, marked United's first five-goal haul in the Premier League in five years and offered a reassuring response to last weekend's 2-0 loss to newly promoted Hull City. Manager Michael Carrick had insisted that setback was "just one game," and his side's attacking display against Ipswich proved him right.
It was far from straightforward, though. Ipswich, managed by Gary O'Neil, started the brighter side and looked dangerous on the counter through Julio Enciso, Issa Diop and Daizen Maeda. Goalkeeper Senne Lammens was called into action early, denying both Enciso and Maeda before Ipswich broke the deadlock in the 29th minute. Abdul Fatawu, fresh from back-to-back relegations with Leicester, skipped past Luke Shaw and delivered a cross that Leif Davis fired home off the underside of the crossbar.
United struggled to find rhythm before the break, but everything changed just before half-time when Marcelino Nunez slipped inside his own half. Matheus Cunha pounced and slid the ball through for Fernandes, who raced clear and buried an unstoppable finish past goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen to level the score.
The floodgates opened after the interval. In a devastating 12-minute spell between the 56th and 68th minutes, United scored three times to turn the game on its head. Harry Maguire's low drive deflected in off Jacob Greaves for what was recorded as an own goal, despite Ipswich's protests over a potential handball in the build-up — a VAR review deemed the contact accidental and let the goal stand.
Moments later, Greaves brought down Cunha inside the box, and referee Craig Pawson pointed to the spot. Fernandes, who had missed two penalties in pre-season, held his nerve to send Scherpen the wrong way. He then completed his hat-trick in the 68th minute, pouncing on a loose ball after Bryan Mbeumo's shot deflected into his path for a close-range finish.
Fernandes was not finished providing moments of quality. Growing in confidence, he attempted an audacious effort from inside his own half that beat the backpedaling Scherpen but crashed against the crossbar. He did, however, turn provider for United's fifth, threading a pass for Mbeumo to loop the ball in off the underside of the bar with eight minutes remaining.
Ipswich substitute Chuba Akpom netted a stoppage-time consolation after Lisandro Martinez lost possession to Enciso, who squared the ball for the finish, but it did little to dent United's dominant response.
Marcus Rashford also impressed on his first Old Trafford appearance in 90 weeks, involved in several promising moves throughout the match, while United paraded new £70 million signing Carlos Baleba to supporters before kick-off, despite the midfielder being sidelined with an ankle issue.
Fernandes' display extended his remarkable individual record for United, following a Premier League season in which he registered 21 assists. With three goals already from this game alone, he is well on his way to matching last season's tally of nine.
Despite the eventual scoreline, Ipswich will feel they had spells of real promise, particularly in the first half, but were ultimately undone by United's ruthless second-half surge led by their inspired captain.
Based on reporting from Independent, Standard Sport, and The Guardian.