Fernandes inspires United comeback

Trailing — again — to a promoted team, Manchester United was facing further embarrassment early in this season's Premier League.

Then Bruno Fernandes intervened.

With a clinically taken hat-trick, the Portugal playmaker inspired United's comeback in a 5-2 win over Ipswich at Old Trafford on Sunday.

It was a relieving win for United, which opened its league campaign last weekend with a stunning 2-0 loss to Hull — a team that was promoted via the Championship playoffs and was widely tipped as a favorite for relegation.

After that setback, United manager Michael Carrick appealed for calm — but saw his team fall behind on Sunday to Ipswich, another big candidate for relegation, in the 29th minute.

Fernandes, the player of the year in the Premier League last season, equalized with a thunderous left-foot shot at the end of a counterattack in the 40th, converted from the penalty spot for his second goal in the 61st to make it 3-1, and completed his hattrick seven minutes later by calmly slotting home. Five years ago, Fernandes also scored a hat-trick for United in his first home appearance of the season, against Leeds on that occasion.

"Scoring goals is the best feeling in football," he said. "Getting a hat-trick at home with our fans is something I'm proud of. I hope I can get many more."

Between Fernandes' trio of strikes, there was an own goal following a shot by Harry Maguire, who handled the ball in the buildup. A foul wasn't awarded because it wasn't adjudged to be deliberate and he didn't score directly from his shot, with the ball instead deflecting in off Ipswich defender Jacob Greaves.

Bryan Mbeumo completed the scoring for United, running onto a pass from Fernandes and lobbing the goalkeeper from the edge of the area.

Ipswich grabbed a stoppage-time consolation after Argentina defender Lisandro Martinez was dispossessed near his own goal.

"It's just a week in football, isn't it? The ups-and-downs," Carrick said. "If you want to be a big team and a successful team, every team gets beaten and you've got to deal with setbacks. We had a mini setback going a goal behind, but we showed stubbornness, belief and togetherness, and that was pleasing for me."

AP