Michael Carrick’s Manchester United rebounded from an embarrassing Week 1 result and a first-half deficit as Bruno Fernandes scored three goals and set up another in a 5-2 win over Ipswich Town at Old Trafford on Sunday.
MORE — Michael Carrick reaction
Ipswich Town entered Old Trafford on Sunday looking for a surprise 2-0 start to match Hull City, who beat Man Utd 2-0 on Opening Day, and got an early goal from Leif Davis before conceding five times. They’d cap the scoring through Chuba Akpom.
MORE — Why Maguire’s goal stood despite handball
Man United’s other goals came via Bryan Mbeumo and a Harry Maguire-prodded own goal that held a bit of controversy after Maguire handled the ball in the build-up.
United move to 1-0-1 on the season with a +1 goal differential. Ipswich have the same record but see their GD dip to minus-2.
Will Sunday’s Manchester United win go down as an answered wake-up call?
Manchester United’s three points from six against newly-promoted sides came via a second-half comeback against Ipswich Town, and there’s plenty of uncertainty lurking around the corners of Old Trafford heading into a list of more difficult fixtures. Man United go to Everton and then host Champions League newbies Sabah FK before a home Manchester derby. Your guess is as good as ours if Man United are, in fact, good. Yes, they dialed up nearly five expected goals against the Tractor Boys but they’re plus-1 goal differential after meeting Hull and Ipswich doesn’t tell us a lot. Ipswich had two big chances in the first half and there are plenty of questions about United’s defending as Luke Shaw was turned inside out and Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez were not an imposing duo over 90 minutes. Maybe the second half is a sign of peak Man United, but there’s just as much reason to doubt the opposition than praise the victors. The jury is out.
Bruno Fernandes remains Man Utd’s golden goose
Clinical finishing and delightful playmaking.
fotmob.com
fotmob.com
Manchester United vs Ipswich Town final score: 5-2
Leif Davis 29'; Bruno Fernandes 40', pen 61', 68'; Jacob Greaves o.g. 56'; Bryan Mbeumo 82'; Chuba Akpom 90+1'
What’s next?
Ipswich Town get another stiff test with a 3pm ET Friday visit from Liverpool to Portman Road.
Manchester United head to Everton at 9am Sunday before getting their Champions League campaign started with a visit from Azerbaijani side Sabah.
Chuba Akpom pulls one back for Ipswich very late on.
Bruno Fernandes on the win: “Was massive for us. We knew we lost three points last week and we wanted to give our fans a lot because they’ve been waiting a long time for this. I think we were in control of the game even though we conceded a goal.
Harry Maguire: “The goal knocked us back a lot. The defeat last week was tough to take. When you lose at this club there’s a lot of noise and you feel like you’re in a crisis. We spoke about it at halftime. We came out and got it again. We could’ve scored more.”
Is it a Mbeumo goal or an own goal?
The Cameroonian gets behind the line for a lobbed Fernandes pass and snaps the ball high over the onrushing Scherpen.
It hits the bar and spins back over the line just as Ipswich attempt a desperation clear.
Noussair Mazraoui replaces Luke Shaw while Leny Yoro will take the place of Diogo Dalot. United lead 4-1 in the 74th minute.
Ipswich make two more subs shortly after bringing new signing Exequiel Palacios into the game, with Abdoul Ouattara and Darnell Furlong entering the game. The exits? Nunez, Sasa Lukic, and Daizen Maeda.
It’s a hat trick for the captain.
Kobbie Mainoo steps onto a loose ball from 20 yards and sees his shot blocked onto the path of Mbeumo.
The Cameroon star’s shot is blocked, too, but it skitters toward Fernandes.
The Portuguese settles the ball and passes it beyond the splayed left leg of Scherpen.
The captain completes his brace, sending the ball to the corner departed by Scherpen.
Cunha gets into the box for a Kobbie Mainoo through ball and is slid down from behind.
The referee points to the spot but there’s going to be review.
A yellow card to Greaves, who had just conceded the own goal.
Man United are in front for the moment after 56 minutes but this seems unlikely to last.
Harry Maguire blocks a clearance with his hands crossed in front of his chest.
He shoots and the ball turns off Ipswich defender Jacob Greaves and into the goal.
Here’s why the goal stood, from our own Joe Prince-Wright.
Marcus Rashford knocks a cross back through the six and Bryan Mbeumo just has to get something on it.
Well, something more than this!
The ball snaps off his knee, off the cross bar, and out!
An injury to Emersonn means the introduction of Chuba Akpom for Ipswich at the break.
There’s plenty for Man United optimists and pessimists here.
The negatives? How easy it was for Ipswich to find space in the box to take the lead. Also it took Ipswich falling down to deliver a Man United goal.
The positives? Sixty percent of the ball, an 11-6 edge in shot attempts, Bruno Fernandes on the score sheet, and another 45 minutes to go.
Marcelino Nunez slips on the ball and Matheus Cunha pounces, leading a 3v2 dribble toward the Ipswich box.
Cunha plays Bruno Fernandes into the 18, and the captain slots home with his left foot to make it 1-1.
IPSWICH LEAD AT OLD TRAFFORD ‼️
— USA Sports (@usasports) August 30, 2026
They're searching for back-to-back Premier League wins for the first time in 24 years 🤯
🔴 Man United: 0
⚪️ Ipswich Town: 1
⏱️ 29’ pic.twitter.com/w8dnutnrxM
All alone in the heart of the box, Leif Davis has given the Tractor Boys a lead.
Abdul Fatawu nutmegs Luke Shaw and then dribbles around the right corner. Shaw can’t stop him from crossing to the left of the penalty spot.
Davis turns into into the roof of the goal.
Scherpen made a terrific early save but now Ipswich have found some joy in United’s end with two chances!
Starting XI
Scherpen
O’Shea
Diop
Greaves
Davis
Lukic
Nunez
Fatawu
Enciso
Maeda
Emersonn
Subs: Walton, Furlong, Kipre, Ouattara, Palacios, McAteer, Walle Egeli, Clarke, Akpom
Marcus Rashford starts for the Red Devils!
Manchester United Starting XI
Lammens
Dalot
Maguire
Martinez
Shaw
Tielemans
Mainoo
B. Fernandes
Rashford
Cunha
Mbeumo
Bench: Darlow, Heaven, Mazraoui, Yoro, Dorgu, Santos, Lacey, Sesko, Zirkzee
Man United boss Michael Carrick rebelled against criticism of his team’s spirit after the loss to Hull City, saying not every bad day needs to be boiled down to desire.
“Just because we lose a game doesn’t [mean] I’ll have leadership or passion thrown me after the game,” Carrick said. “It’s not just that. If you lose two set-plays like we did, it changes the game. ... You’ve watched football for a long time. Teams lose games and win games, and it’s not just because you try or you don’t try.”
Ipswich are 0-for-the-2000s against Manchester United, though the sides have only met seven times.
The Tractor Boys managed a draw with the Red Devils at Portman Road in 2024, but are 2D-5L in their last seven against their Sunday hosts.
Ipswich’s last win over Man United came in 1997, their last PL win over the Red Devils coming in 1994.
Kick off time: 11:30am ET Sunday (August 30)
Venue: Old Trafford — Manchester
TV Channel: USA
Stream link: Watch on USA
