Bruno Fernandes’s hat-trick inspired a Manchester United fightback from a goal down to thrash Ipswich 5-2 and get their Premier League season up and running on Sunday.
After a nightmare 2-0 defeat to Hull last weekend, another newly-promoted side had the Red Devils on the ropes when Leif Davis opened the scoring for the Tractor Boys.
But Fernandes blasted home to level before half time and then converted from the penalty spot after a Jacob Greaves own goal put United in front.
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The United captain completed his hat-trick from close range before adding an assist to his fine afternoon for Bryan Mbeumo.
However, the second-half comeback was sparked in controversial scenes, with an own goal caused by Harry Maguire’s strike on the edge of the box upheld despite a clear handball.
Ipswich players immediately protested after Maguire’s shot ricocheted off Jacob Greaves and into the back of the net, with the United defender having bounced off his arm as he intercepted a clearance on the edge of the box.
The VAR quickly found the handball, but bizarrely, were powerless to overturn the goal – because Maguire’s shot wasn’t initially on target.
According to controversial handball laws, an accidental handball will only be enough to disallow a goal if the player involved is the immediate goalscorer.
As Maguire’s shot was deemed to be going wide before deflecting in off Greaves, the goal was cleared to stand.
The official Premier League match centre account took to social media to explain the controversial ruling.
“It’s an own goal and the accidental handball is not punishable, so we recommend you award the goal,” VAR Jarred Gillett told referee Craig Pawson.
Had Maguire’s shot been initially on target, whether it had been touched by Greaves or not, the goal would not have stood.
Speaking after the match, Maguire admitted the rule had worked in United’s favour.
”It wasn’t a handball on purpose, for sure, but I don’t think it touched my fingers,” he told Sky Sports.
“I actually dragged the shot a bit wide, so I think it’ll go down as an own goal, unfortunately. But that’s probably the reason that it counted.
“If it was my goal, they disallow it, which are the rules nowadays.
“But thankfully, it was on our side, and I think we deserved the win and that little bit of luck.”
Ipswich manager Gary O’Neil said his team were “really unlucky” with both United’s first two goals, including the handball controversy.
“To beat Manchester United at Old Trafford you need the moments to go in your favour, and they didn’t,” he told Sky Sports.
“Rules can go against you, or a deflection.
“There are lots of things that can happen in a game that are beyond your control.”
The controversy came after Marcus Rashford was handed his first United start in nearly two years as Michael Carrick made four changes to the side that kicked off the campaign with a woeful display eight days ago.
Rashford and the return of his England international teammate Kobbie Mainoo made a big difference, but United were again reliant on Fernandes as a difference-maker in the final third.
Questions also remain over Carrick’s men at the back.
Senne Lammens had to save one-on-one from Julio Enciso after he broke clear from a United corner before Ipswich took the lead on 29 minutes.
Abdul Fatawu burned Luke Shaw for pace down the wing and his cross was brilliantly swept high into the net by Davis.
Moments later, the Ipswich left-back had an even better chance to double the visitors’ lead, but his tame effort was saved by Lammens.
Instead, the game swung on an Ipswich error as Marcelino Nunez slipped to gift possession to Matheus Cunha, who fed Fernandes to blast home on his weaker left foot.
Following the handball controversy which saw United take the lead, Greaves was still clearing his head when he chopped down Cunha as he bore down on goal.
Fernandes, who was this week crowned last season’s player of the year by his fellow professionals, coolly converted the resulting spot-kick.
It was a record 21 Premier League assists last season that powered Fernandes to a haul of individual awards as he only scored nine times.
The Portuguese international is already a third of the way to matching that tally as he was in the right place to latch onto Mbeumo’s deflected shot and complete his hat-trick.
And there was still time for Fernandes to add an assist when Mbeumo raced on to his pass over the top and looped the ball over giant Ipswich goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen.
But a fine display going forward was book-ended by United errors at the back as Ipswich were gifted a consolation in stoppage time.
Lisandro Martinez was caught in possession by Enciso, who teed up Chuba Akpom to tap into an empty net.
‘HARD-FOUGHT’: ALONSO’S ADMISSION AS CHELSEA SURVIVE SEVEN-GOAL THRILLER
Xabi Alonso said Chelsea are still a work in progress after a thrilling 4-3 win against Brighton on Sunday extended his perfect start as Blues boss.
Alonso has presided over two successive wins in the Premier League and one in the League Cup since taking charge of the Blues.
Alonso insisted that Chelsea’s fine form does not mean he has solved all the problems that caused them to finish 10th prior to his arrival.
“Hard-fought win but this is the Premier League. We knew that Brighton were tough to beat recently in these games. There was history,” he said.
“It was good to finish with the win but many things happened. We will have time to analyse different stages.
“It was a brilliant first half hour. We could have scored more than three. But we were sitting too deep after that. But this is a process. We need to develop with these wins which give you the confidence.”
Romeo Lavia opened the scoring at Stamford Bridge with his first Chelsea goal since signing from Southampton in 2023.
Pedro Neto doubled the Blues’ lead and Joao Pedro added the third before Brighton’s Malick Yalcouye got one back late on in a frenzied first half.
Pedro’s own goal after the interval gave Chelsea a few anxious moments before Cole Palmer struck in the closing stages.
Pascal Gross netted in stoppage-time but it was too late to derail Chelsea.
Alonso has already breathed new life into Chelsea’s attack, with nine goals in their first three games, but questions remain about a creaky defence that has been breached five times.
Pedro, Palmer, Neto and Morgan Rogers have linked superbly in attack in Alonso’s first three games.
Highlighting former Brighton striker Pedro’s contribution, Alonso said: “He has been terrific in all the games he has played this season and also the pre-season.
“He has the desire to play each game 100 per cent and have a terrific season. We need to help him but it’s important he has this hunger to do it.”
Emiliano Martinez was beaten three times on his Chelsea debut after the Argentina goalkeeper completed his move from Aston Villa just hours earlier.
Martinez, 33, has replaced the error-prone Robert Sanchez and Alonso is confident he will prove a shrewd addition.
“It’s great to have him. We saw that even today. Even if we conceded three goals, he had a straight impact and he helped the team really well. We are happy we have him,” Alonso said.
“He is a great personality and a great goalkeeper. His expression and his charisma influence the rest of the team.”
Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez was absent for the second successive game after links with Manchester City.
Alonso would not be drawn on Fernandez’s future, or the potential for more signings before the transfer window shuts on Tuesday.
“We will see what happens. We are ready for whatever. Most important is the team,” he said.
“However we finish on Tuesday, I am happy it will be a good squad to compete this season.”