Manchester United 5-2 Ipswich Town: result and report

Report

Manchester United got the home win they were expected to get, but the first hour was far from straightforward. Ipswich Town scored first and were still level early in the second half. The game only turned during a five-minute spell after the break.

How the game turned

Leif Davis put Ipswich Town ahead on 29 minutes from Abdul Fatawu Issahaku's assist. Bruno Fernandes equalised on 40 minutes from Matheus Cunha's pass, so the sides went in level.

The decisive swing came soon after the restart. Jacob Greaves turned the ball into his own net on 56 minutes. Fernandes then scored a penalty on 61 minutes to make it 3-1.

Fernandes completed his hat-trick on 68 minutes and then set up Bryan Mbeumo on 82 minutes. Chuba Akpom still pulled one back in added time from Julio Enciso's pass, though by then the result was settled.

Manchester United's chances

The scoreline did not flatter Manchester United, because they created far more than Ipswich Town. They finished with 4.42 xG to 0.88, nine big chances to four and 11 shots on target to five.

Even five goals undersold their attacking output. Manchester United missed five big chances and hit the woodwork, while Ipswich Town made six saves. Manchester United also sustained far more pressure, which fits a match played largely at Ipswich Town's end.

Ipswich Town: a lead they could not hold

The counter-signal is how long Ipswich Town stayed in the game. Despite the gap in chances, they led for 11 minutes and were level until the 56th. Their resistance broke because of an own goal and a penalty in quick succession, not a single passage of open play.

Ipswich Town also scored twice from less than one xG. That means the final margin, if anything, was kind to them.