Bruno Fernandes scored a hat-trick as Manchester United beat Ipswich 5-2 at Old Trafford, with Marcus Rashford impressing on his return to the stadium.
Fernandes, who collected a PFA award on Tuesday, converted a penalty and added two further goals, while also setting up Bryan Mbeumo for the fifth. The win came after United had fallen behind to a Leif Davis goal.
Rashford returns to Old Trafford
Rashford, playing for the first time at Old Trafford since December 2024, received a big cheer when his name was read out before kick-off and an early rendition of his song. He was positive and direct, seeing an early shot deflected and setting up a chance for Matheus Cunha, who blazed over.
Wearing the No. 9 but playing on his favoured left wing, Rashford volleyed a Diogo Dalot ball back across goal in the second half, only for Mbeumo to hit the bar from close range. Dalot picked out Rashford again moments later, and this time the volley was struck towards goal, only for Kjell Scherpen to produce a magnificent save.
United come from behind
United had looked in trouble when conceding from another cross, with Abdul Fatawu skinning Luke Shaw before picking out an unmarked Davis to score. When Davis nearly made it two from another ball in, concern spread around Old Trafford.
The equaliser came after Dalot took too long over a throw-in, with the decision reversed. From the Ipswich throw, Marcelino Nunez slipped in possession and United broke ruthlessly. Cunha fed Fernandes, whose left-footed finish was unerring.
Hat-trick hero
United went ahead when Harry Maguire won a duel on the edge of the box, but his shot was going wide until it deflected in off Jacob Greaves. Had Maguire scored the goal, it would have been ruled out for handball, but because it was an own goal, VAR didn't get involved.
Ipswich were furious with the decision and were all at sea within seconds of the restart, when Cunha darted clear and was brought down by a desperate lunge from Greaves. Fernandes made no mistake from the spot. He had his hat-trick when Mbeumo's shot was deflected into his path, and from kick-off tried his luck from halfway when Ipswich lost possession, only for the shot to sail a yard over Scherpen's goal.
His excellent pass for Mbeumo saw the forward lob the onrushing Scherpen to complete the rout as the rain teemed down. A mistake in possession by Lisandro Martinez allowed Chuba Akpom to score a second for Ipswich in injury time. After a false start last week, United are up and running.
