Ruben Amorim’s long-awaited debut as Manchester United boss finished a 1-1 draw with bottom-three Ipswich Town at Portmand Road on Sunday.
[ MORE: What did we learn about Amorim? | What did Amorim say after the game? ]
Marcus Rashford put the Red Devils in front after 81 seconds but Amorim saw the challenge in front of him the rest of the way as Omari Hutchinson brought Ipswich level and either side could’ve taken all three points.
United goalkeeper Andre Onana was key to the draw, which leaves the Red Devils in 12th place with 16 points, three off sixth place and six points away from third place.
Ipswich’s ninth point lifts them 18th, behind Wolves and safety on goal differential.
Much more to come from Amorim
For everything this match taught us about Ruben Amorim — and we learned plenty — the biggest certainty is that we should dwell too much on who played, how long they played, and maybe even where they played. Amorim looked like a man who was taking in a wealth of information and deciding what to process and what to save for the film. Alejandro Garnacho is electric but also young. He looked immature and cost his team chances, but he was also in position to make those chances happen. How does Amorim read that? Casemiro sprayed the ball around the park and helped Bruno Fernandes unlock the Ipswich back line, but Manuel Ugarte was coming back from international break and Kobbie Mainoo from injury so who knows where the Brazilian fits into Amorim’s plans. All five players who subbed into the game — Joshua Zirkzee, Ugarte, Mason Mount, Rasmus Hojlund, and Luke Shaw — could easily become regular starters, and Leny Yoro, Lisandro Martinez, Victor Lindelof, and Harry Maguire were all absent through injury or fitness. There were moments that United delivered a glimpse of the future, as Amorim promised before the game, but mostly there’s so so so so so much work to be done at Old Trafford.
Ipswich Town vs Manchester United player ratings
(from fotmob.com)
Ipswich Town vs Manchester United player ratings (from fotmob.com)
Ipswich Town vs Manchester United player ratings (from fotmob.com)
What’s next?
United host Bodo/Glimt at 3pm ET Thursday in Europa League action, then Everton visit Old Trafford at 8:30am ET Sunday as Amorim’s decent runway continues to start life in the Premier League.
Ipswich next play at 10am ET Saturday at Nottingham Forest.
How to watch Ipswich vs Manchester United live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 11:30 am ET Sunday
Venue: Portman Road — Ipswich
TV Channel: USA
Streaming: Stream online via NBC.com
Ipswich vs Manchester United final score: 1-1
Marcus Rashford 2', Omari Hutchinson 43'
Ipswich vs Manchester United live updates — By Nick Mendola
Full time — Ipswich Town 1-1 Manchester United
More subs
Joshua Zirkzee and Rasmus Hojlund both enter the fray for Marcus Rashford and Christian Eriksen.
Those subs three minutes after Jack Taylor and Jack Clarke came into the game for Ipswich, replacing Cajuste and Sammi Szmodics.
1-1, 68'.
Ipswich’s press unsurprisingly effective
Kieran McKenna knew that Man United was likely to be playing an understaffed back three and using the formation for the first time in years.
It’s no surprise that the Tractor Boys have intensely high pressed the Red Devils, and it’s limited the visitors’ ability to find the open spaces.
Still 1-1 as we enter the 65th minute.
Man United subs
Off go Casemiro and Jonny Evans, replaced by Manuel Ugarte and Luke Shaw.
These moves make sense, and there will likely be more soon.
1-1, 57'.
Cajuste breaks up Garnacho’s prolonged dribble
Bruno Fernandes unlocks the Ipswich defense with a through ball for the speedy Garnacho.
He’s dribbling down the left and has Marcus Rashford open for a high-danger chance on the right.
Instead, it’s an extra touch and a desperation tackle by Jens Cajuste.
On another day, Garnacho has three assists. Instead he’s thrice been dispossessed in dangerous areas.
Onana again!
Ipswich rips through United on the counter, with Liam Delap sending Wes Burns wide down the right.
Burns sends a cross that’s a shade behind Delap, who makes amends by bidding to score with his trailing leg.
Onana reacts well to stop the low effort. Man of the Match so far?
Manchester United chance!
A good start to the second half, as Casemiro sprays a long pass down the left to open up Ipswich.
Bruno Fernandes slides Alejandro Garnacho into the box, and the Argentine seems between two minds before his pass across goal is slapped off its path by Muric.
Halftime — Ipswich Town 1-1 Manchester United
Fair stalemate at this point, and clearly the Red Devils have some growing pains to undergo with their shape.
Shots, xG, and even possession favor the hosts, who weathered a very bright start from Amorim’s men.
There are a lot of big names on the United bench to change this — Kobbie Mainoo, Rasmus Hojlund, Joshua Zirkzee, Luke Shaw, and Manuel Ugarte among them.
Let’s see how adventurous Amorim wants to be in his second 45 minutes in charge.
Omari Hutchinson goal — Ipswich Town 1-1 Manchester United (43rd minute)
It should be level, and it is in fantastic fashion.
Omari Hutchinson’s first Premier League goal is a remarkable long-range strike to level the score just before halftime.
Half-chance as Dalot rages forward, then HUGE save by Onana
Casemiro seeks out of Diogo Dalot with a long, lofted pass over the back line.
Dalot collects it and has a defender on him and hits a 60 percent effort at Muric.
Ipswich go the other way and Liam Delap is point blank with Andre Onana only to see his vicious shot denied by the United keeper.
Still 1-0 to the visitors, 41'.
Ipswich settle in, win free kick
Better from the Tractor Boys since the first 10 minutes saw Man United looking bright.
Omari Hutchinson lashes a central free kick on goal but Andre Onana is well-positioned to catch it.
Diallo creating again
The 22-year-old Ivorian goes firing down the right flank again and crosses into the mix.
It comes out on plate for Christian Eriksen, who is well outside the 18 and cannot get it on frame.
Not a bad chance, and another bright moment early in Ruben Amorim’s first game.
1-0 Red Devils, 8'.
Marcus Rashford goal! Ipswich Town 0-1 Manchester United (2nd minute)
Eighty-one seconds.
Amad Diallo is sprung down the right side and his cross toward three running options is pushed inside Arijanet Muric’s post by Marcus Rashford.
Underway
The Ruben Amorim era is on and the Red Devils lead!
Ipswich Town lineup
Muric, Tuanzebe, O’Shea, Burgess, Davis, Morsy, Cajuste, Burns, Hutchinson, Szmodics, Delap
Manchester United lineup
Onana, De Ligt, Evans, Casemiro, Mazraoui, Eriksen, Fernandes, Dalot, Diallo, Garnacho, Rashford
Ipswich team news, focus
OUT: Janoi Donacien (groin), Jacob Greaves (thigh, Jack Taylor (other), Chiedozie Ogbene (achilles) | QUESTIONABLE: Nathan Broadhead (groin), Wes Burns (knock), Axel Tuanzebe (hand)
Manchester United team news, focus
OUT: Leny Yoro (foot), Harry Maguire (calf), Kobbie Mainoo (other), Luke Shaw (calf), Victor Lindelof (groin) | QUESTIONABLE: Lisandro Martinez (back), Tyrell Malacia (knee)
Ipswich vs Manchester United prediction
There could hardly be a better matchup for any coach to make his debut, facing a side that poses so little threat going forward. United won’t create a ton of chances either, but they’ll do enough. Ipswich 1-2 Manchester United.
