Fernandes Hat-Trick Fires Manchester United Past Ipswich

Bruno Fernandes scored a hat-trick as Manchester United recovered from an early setback to beat Ipswich Town 5-2 at Old Trafford, while Chelsea defeated Brighton 4-3 in another high-scoring Premier League match on Sunday.

Fernandes’s display helped Michael Carrick’s side respond to their 2-0 opening-weekend defeat at Hull. United had fallen behind against promoted Ipswich, but their captain scored three times and also supplied the pass for Bryan Mbeumo’s late goal in a five-goal response.

At Stamford Bridge, Chelsea held off Brighton after taking a three-goal lead. The result extended Xabi Alonso’s perfect start as Chelsea manager and left the Blues alongside Manchester City and Hull as the only teams with six points from their first two matches.

Fernandes leads United’s five-goal response

Ipswich took the lead in the 29th minute when Leif Davis struck an effort that cannoned in off the crossbar. United were facing the prospect of another difficult result against a promoted side before Fernandes levelled five minutes before half-time.

Marcelino Nunez slipped, allowing Matheus Cunha to find the United captain, who produced the finish to make it 1-1. United then moved ahead in the 56th minute through a Jacob Greaves own goal. Greaves deflected Harry Maguire’s shot into his own net, with Ipswich appeals for handball against Maguire not upheld by VAR.

The Ipswich defender endured a costly spell as he then conceded a penalty by fouling Cunha. Fernandes converted from the spot to put United in control before completing his hat-trick in the 68th minute. Kobbie Mainoo and Mbeumo had both seen attempts blocked before Fernandes swept in from close range.

The treble was Fernandes’s second league hat-trick for United, following his three goals against Leeds five years earlier. He remained influential in the closing stages, setting up Mbeumo, whose lob clipped the bar before dropping over the line in the 82nd minute.

Chuba Akpom scored a stoppage-time tap-in for Ipswich, but it was only a consolation as the visitors suffered their first defeat since returning to the top flight.

Chelsea withstand Brighton rally after fast start

Chelsea had begun Alonso’s reign with a 3-2 win at Fulham on Monday, with Joao Pedro, Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer all scoring. Pedro and Palmer found the net again against Brighton, while Rogers helped create Chelsea’s second goal, scored by Pedro Neto.

Emiliano Martinez made his Chelsea debut in goal shortly after completing his move from Aston Villa. Brighton, who had been 4-0 ahead inside 31 minutes against Villa the previous weekend, instead found themselves three goals behind in just over half an hour at Stamford Bridge.

Romeo Lavia opened the scoring after benefiting from a mix-up between Bart Verbruggen and Mats Wieffer, prodding home from a corner. Neto then turned in Rogers’s cross, before Pedro completed a Chelsea counter-attack that began inside their own box.

Brighton replied moments later through Malick Yalcouye’s volley, then reduced the deficit again just after the hour when Pedro turned Pascal Gross’s cross into his own net. Palmer restored Chelsea’s advantage with a solo run across the Brighton defence before curling into the bottom corner from outside the box.

Gross headed a stoppage-time consolation for Brighton, but Chelsea saw out the 4-3 win. Elsewhere, Leeds drew with Brentford after Dominic Calvert-Lewin cancelled out Kevin Schade’s opener, while Sunderland beat Fulham 1-0 through Wilson Isidor’s goal 15 minutes from time.