Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes delivered an outstanding performance, scoring a hat-trick in the match against Ipswich, which ended with Manchester United winning 5-2 in the English Premier League at Old Trafford in Manchester. Meanwhile, Chelsea continued its perfect start under the management of Xabi Alonso, securing a tight 4-3 victory over Brighton on Sunday.
Fernandes' dynamic play helped United recover from the humiliating 2-0 defeat to Hull in the first round of the Premier League season. Michael Carrick's team was in danger of another disgrace from the promoted side when Leif Davies opened the scoring in the 29th minute with a powerful shot that hit the crossbar at Old Trafford.
However, Fernandes' brilliant show began in the 40th minute after a mistake by Marcelino Núñez allowed Matheus Cunha to select the United captain for a magnificent finish. United took the lead in the 56th minute thanks to a goal from own goal by Jacob Graves.
Graves deflected a shot by Harry Maguire into his own net, and Ipswich's appeals for a foul in favor of the United defender were rejected by VAR. After concluding a tense five minutes, the Ipswich defender committed a foul on Cunha, and the United captain Fernandes went one-on-one and scored from the penalty spot. Fernandes cemented his hat-trick in the 68th minute, breaking through from close range after goals by Kobbie Mainoo and Bryan Mbeumo were blocked.
This was Fernandes' second hat-trick in the league for United following his treble against Leeds five years ago. Fernandes did not stop, and Bryan Mbeumo scored a goal from a pass in the 82nd minute, sending the ball that hit the crossbar and dropped into the net. Choupo Akpom's goal in added time was only a small consolation for Ipswich, who suffered their first defeat since returning to the top division.
In the Chelsea vs. Brighton match, Xabi Alonso's team continued its flawless start, winning 4-3. Joao Pedro, Morgan Rogers, and Cole Palmer scored goals early in Alonso's tenure. Pedro and Palmer found the net again, and Rogers set up Pedro Neto's second goal, as the Blues withstood Brighton's onslaught at Stamford Bridge.
Emiliano Martínez made his debut for Chelsea in goal just hours after transferring from Aston Villa, becoming the first player over 30 to start for the Blues in more than two years. However, his Argentinian counterpart Enzo Fernandez did not make the squad, and he could still leave Chelsea for Manchester City before the transfer deadline on Tuesday.
Brighton had previously led 4-0 against Villa last week, but this time they fell by three goals in less than half an hour. Romeo Lavia capitalized on confusion between Bart Verbruggen and Mats Wieffer to open the scoring from a corner. Then Neto converted Rogers' cross, and Pedro completed a brilliant Chelsea counterattack that started in his own penalty area. Martínez was soon beaten by a swift strike from Malik Yakouye. Pedro passed Pascal Groß into his own net shortly before the end of the first half. Palmer's moment of genius caused wild celebrations for Alonso when he curled the ball into the far corner after an individual breakthrough past the Brighton defense. Groß scored in added time for Brighton, but Chelsea joined Manchester City and Hull as one of the few teams to collect six points in the first two games.