Michael Carrick’s side were in danger of another embarrassing loss to a promoted club when Leif Davis put Ipswich ahead at Old Trafford with a 29th minute strike that cannoned in off the crossbar. But the Fernandes show started in the 40th minute after Marcelino Nunez’s slip allowed Matheus Cunha to pick out the United captain for a sumptuous finish. Bruno Fernandes starred with a hat-trick in Manchester United’s 5-2 rout of Ipswich, while Chelsea extended Xabi Alonso’s perfect start with a thrilling 4-3 win against Brighton on Sunday. Fernandes’s dynamic display ensured United bounced back from their humiliating 2-0 defeat at Hull on the opening weekend of the Premier League season.
United went in front in the 56th minute through Jacob Greaves’ own goal. Fernandes sealed his treble in the 68th minute, sweeping in from close-range after Kobbie Mainoo and Bryan Mbeumo had shots blocked. Fernandes was not finished and Bryan Mbeumo scored from his pass with a lob that clipped the bar and dropped over the line in the 82nd minute. And Pedro and Palmer were back on target, while Rogers teed up Chelsea’s second goal, scored by Pedro Neto, as the Blues held off a rally from Brighton at Stamford Bridge.
Joao Pedro, Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer all scored when Alonso’s reign as Chelsea boss kicked off with a 3-2 win at Fulham on Monday. Emiliano Martinez made his Chelsea debut in goal just hours after sealing his move from Aston Villa, becoming the first player over 30 to start a league game for the Blues in more than two years. Brighton were 4-0 up inside 31 minutes against Villa last weekend, but this time found themselves three goals down in just over half an hour.
