Manchester United battled past Ipswich Town in a dramatic 3-2 victory at Old Trafford in Wednesday’s English Premier League encounter. The match saw an early blunder from United’s new signing Patrick Dorgu, a red card controversy, and three crucial set-piece goals.
Despite going down to ten men, United’s resilience shone through as they secured their first Premier League win in four matches.
Lineups
Manchester United started with André Onana in goal, Leny Yoro, Harry Maguire, and Matthijs de Ligt in defense, while Dorgu and Diogo Dalot occupied the wing-back positions. The midfield trio consisted of Manuel Ugarte, Bruno Fernandes, and Casemiro, with Alejandro Garnacho and Joshua Zirkzee leading the attack.
Ipswich lined up with Alex Palmer in goal, a backline of George Edmundson, Luke Woolfenden, and Cameron Burgess, supported by Leif Davis and Omari Hutchinson on the wings. Sam Morsy, Massimo Luongo, and Jeremy Sarmiento controlled the midfield, while Jaden Philogene and Liam Delap spearheaded the attack.
How the Match Unfolded
Ipswich took an unexpected lead in just the fourth minute. Patrick Dorgu’s back pass was intercepted, and Jaden Philogene capitalized to slot the ball past Onana. United responded quickly, with Maguire heading a Bruno Fernandes corner towards goal, forcing Palmer into a save. The equalizer finally came in the 22nd minute when Fernandes’ free-kick resulted in Sam Morsy unintentionally heading the ball into his own net.
United took the lead soon after, as another Fernandes corner saw Maguire rise highest. His header led to a goalmouth scramble before De Ligt smashed the ball into the roof of the net. However, just before halftime, Ipswich struck again. Philogene’s looping shot confused Onana and De Ligt, bouncing into the net to make it 2-2.
United’s woes deepened when Dorgu was sent off in the second half for a reckless challenge on Omari Hutchinson. Garnacho was sacrificed for Noussair Mazraoui, leading to frustration as he stormed down the tunnel. Despite being a man down, United found the winning goal in the 48th minute through Maguire, who headed in yet another Fernandes corner.
Post-Match Analysis
United showed great resilience to fight back after Dorgu’s nightmare performance. Maguire was a key figure, scoring and defending solidly. Fernandes once again proved his value with pinpoint set-piece deliveries. Ipswich had their moments, but defensive lapses cost them dearly. Onana’s inconsistency remained a concern, and Dorgu’s debut was one to forget.
What the Coaches Said
United boss Ruben Amorim addressed Garnacho’s reaction: “I will talk with him about that. It’s important to manage emotions in these situations.”
On the team’s performance, Amorim said, “It was a tough fight, but we showed the spirit we need to survive this season.”
The Manager’s assessment.#MUNIPS
— Ipswich Town (@IpswichTown) February 26, 2025
Ipswich coach Kieran McKenna lamented his team’s mistakes: “We started well but lost focus at key moments. You can’t give away three set-piece goals against a team like United.”
Player of the Match
Bruno Fernandes. The midfielder was instrumental in all three goals, delivering precise set-piece assists and controlling the tempo of the game.
What Next?
Manchester United will face Fulham in the FA Cup fifth round, hoping to build on this victory. Ipswich remain in the relegation zone and must regroup quickly before their next league fixture.
EPL Top Six Table
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