Manchester United overcame a rollercoaster first half to secure a crucial 3-2 victory against Ipswich on Wednesday night. The match started disastrously for Ruben Amorim’s men, with Jaden Philogene taking advantage of a defensive mix-up between Patrick Dorgu and Andre Onana to put the visitors ahead just four minutes in.
United responded well, quickly turning the game around. A Sam Morsy own goal leveled the score, and Matthijs de Ligt powered in a second to give the Red Devils the lead by the 26th minute.
However, the drama wasn’t over Dorgu saw red for a reckless challenge on Omari Hutchinson, leaving United down to 10 men. Ipswich capitalized, with Philogene grabbing his second to make it 2-2 before the break.
With United reduced to 10 men, the second half required grit and determination. Just two minutes after the restart, Harry Maguire rose to the occasion, heading home the winning goal to secure all three points for the Red Devils.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, United fought hard to keep Ipswich at bay, earning just their ninth Premier League win of the season.
De Ligt praised the team’s spirit, acknowledging the difficulty of playing with 10 men. “It was a hard-fought win,” the Dutch defender told MUTV. “We showed great resilience, especially in the second half.”
Bruno Fernandes once again proved instrumental, providing two assists and dictating play from a deeper midfield position. Amorim acknowledged Fernandes’ versatility, stating, “Sometimes we need him higher up, but today he played a key role in building our attacks.”
The manager also admitted that while the victory was crucial, the squad still has areas to improve. “We need to create more chances and, most importantly, score more goals,” Amorim noted.
Ending a three-game winless streak, this result lifted United to 14th in the table, but there’s still a long road ahead. With Fulham up next, Amorim will be hoping his side can build on this momentum and continue climbing the standings.