By Desire Emmanuel with Agency Reports
Bruno Fernandes’s hat-trick inspired a Manchester United fightback from a goal down to thrash Ipswich 5-2 and get their Premier League season title hope alive, up and running on Sunday.
After a nightmare 2-0 defeat to Hull last weekend, another newly-promoted side had the Red Devils on the ropes when Leif Davis opened the scoring for the Tractor Boys.
But Fernandes blasted home to level before half-time and then converted from the penalty spot after a Jacob Greaves own goal put United in front.
The United captain completed his hat-trick from close range before adding an assist to his fine afternoon for Bryan Mbeumo.
Marcus Rashford was handed his first United start in nearly two years as Michael Carrick made four changes to the side that kicked off the campaign with a woeful display eight days ago.
Rashford and the return of his England international teammate Kobbie Mainoo made a big difference, but United were again reliant on Fernandes as a difference-maker in the final third.
Questions also remain over Carrick’s men at the back.
Senne Lammens had to save one-on-one from Julio Enciso after he broke clear from a United corner before Ipswich took the lead on 29 minutes.
Abdul Fatawu burned Luke Shaw for pace down the wing and his cross was brilliantly swept high into the net by Davis.
Moments later, the Ipswich left-back had an even better chance to double the visitors’ lead, but his tame effort was saved by Lammens.
Instead, the game swung on an Ipswich error as Marcelino Nunez slipped to gift possession to Matheus Cunha, who fed Fernandes to blast home on his weaker left foot.
Another break went against Gary O’Neil’s men 11 minutes into the second half.
The ball came off Harry Maguire’s arm before he fired a shot and the goal would have been ruled out had it directly found the net.
However, because the effort was heading off target and deflected in off Greaves, it was allowed to stand as it was not deemed a handball leading directly to a goal.
Greaves was still clearing his head from that setback when he chopped down Cunha as he bore down on goal.
Fernandes, who was this week crowned last season’s player of the year by his fellow professionals, coolly converted the resulting spot-kick.
It was a record 21 Premier League assists last season that powered Fernandes to a haul of individual awards as he only scored nine times.
(AFP)
