Match overview
Manchester United produced a commanding second-half response to defeat Ipswich Town 5-2 at Old Trafford in the Premier League. The contest was level at 1-1 at half-time after Leif Davis gave Ipswich an early lead and Bruno Fernandes replied for the home side, but United scored four times after the interval to take complete control of the scoreline.
Fernandes was the defining figure, completing a hat-trick and registering an assist for Bryan Mbeumo’s late goal. He was named Player of the Match with a rating of 10.
Ipswich strike first, United answer
Ipswich opened the scoring in the 29th minute. Leif Davis finished with his left foot, with Issahaku Fatawu listed as the assisting player, to put the visitors 1-0 ahead.
United restored parity before the break. Fernandes struck with his left foot in the 40th minute after Matheus Cunha’s assist, ensuring the teams went into half-time level.
Four-goal second half
The turning point in the score came in the 56th minute, when Jacob Greaves was credited with an own goal to put Manchester United 2-1 ahead. The goal was followed by a VAR review in the 57th minute.
Fernandes extended the lead from the penalty spot five minutes later, converting with his right foot in the 61st minute. He then completed his hat-trick in the 68th minute, again scoring with his right foot, to make it 4-1.
Mbeumo added United’s fifth in the 82nd minute, finishing with his left foot after an assist from Fernandes. Ipswich still found a late response: substitute Chuba Akpom scored with his right foot in the first minute of stoppage time, assisted by Julio Enciso, but the final score remained 5-2.
The numbers behind the result
United led the principal attacking measures across the full match. They had 60% possession, completed 488 of 546 passes for an 89% success rate, and recorded 110 attacks compared with Ipswich’s 81.
The home side also accumulated 64 dangerous attacks to Ipswich’s 26, created seven big chances to four, and took 33 total shots. Eleven of those efforts were on target, compared with five from Ipswich. United also had eight corners, 20 key passes and eight accurate crosses.
Ipswich created four big chances and put five shots on target despite having 40% of the ball. Their goalkeeper, Kjell Scherpen, made six saves; United goalkeeper Senne Lammens made three.
Individual notes
Fernandes’ three goals came from a left-footed finish, a penalty and a right-footed finish. His contribution also included the assist for Mbeumo’s goal.
Cunha supplied the assist for United’s equaliser before being replaced by Benjamin Sesko in the 80th minute. Mbeumo scored after entering the match in United’s starting side and also received a yellow card in stoppage time.
Both teams made five substitutions. Ipswich’s Akpom entered in the 46th minute for Emersonn and went on to score their second goal. The visitors received three yellow cards, while United received one.
Final word
After an even first half on the scoreboard, Manchester United’s four second-half goals turned the match decisively in their favour. Fernandes’ hat-trick and assist supplied the standout individual performance in a 5-2 home victory.