Portuguese superstar Bruno Fernandes scored twice to inspire Manchester United to a 2-1 victory over West Ham United as the Red Devils kicked off their U.S. pre-season tour at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Saturday night.
Despite heavy investment in attack this summer — over £120 million spent on Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo — it was captain Fernandes who made the difference, capitalising on two costly errors from West Ham goalkeeper Alphonse Areola to seal victory.
The Portugal international opened the scoring with a fifth-minute penalty after Areola brought down Ayden Heaven, before adding a second just after the break. Kobbie Mainoo intercepted a poor pass from the Hammers keeper and set up Fernandes, who found the far corner with a composed finish from outside the area.
Jarrod Bowen pulled one back for West Ham in the 63rd minute following a slick counter-attack, but Altay Bayindir preserved the win with a vital injury-time save to deny Bowen a late equaliser.
Fernandes Still the Focal Point
Although head coach Ruben Amorim had hinted that Fernandes would play deeper this season, the 30-year-old operated as the right-sided No. 10 alongside Cunha. With Mbeumo unavailable due to fitness concerns, the familiar setup allowed Fernandes to roam into dangerous areas and dictate play.
His performance included a first-minute pass that nearly led to a goal, as Rasmus Højlund shrugged off defender Max Kilman and struck the post. Beyond the goals, Fernandes’ influence and leadership were clear — underscoring why he reportedly turned down a lucrative move to Saudi Arabia earlier in the summer.
After the match, Amorim praised his captain:
“Bruno is a leader, not just on the field but off it too. Last year, we relied on him a lot. This season, with more help from players like Cunha and Mbeumo, he won’t have to carry the entire creative load.”
Fernandes tallied 19 goals and 19 assists in 57 matches last season, despite United finishing a disappointing 15th in the league.
De Ligt vs. Maguire: Defensive Hierarchy Emerging?
Amorim rotated his entire outfield after 65 minutes but notably started Matthijs de Ligt over Harry Maguire, possibly hinting at the pecking order ahead of their Premier League opener against Arsenal on August 17 at Old Trafford.
While neither centre-back was exceptional, neither committed major errors either. De Ligt’s inclusion from the outset, however, suggests he may be edging ahead in the selection battle.
Communication Breakdown Exposed
Despite the win, United showed defensive frailties, particularly in the lead-up to Bowen’s goal. Tomas Soucek’s run through midfield went untracked, and confusion among defenders — with Heaven too narrow, Patrick Dorgu out of position, and midfielders slow to recover — allowed Bowen the space to score.
Amorim will likely see it as a warning sign as the squad continues to build cohesion ahead of the new season.
What’s Next?
Manchester United head to Chicago next, where they face Bournemouth on Thursday (02:30 BST) at Soldier Field. New signing Bryan Mbeumo is expected to make his debut in that fixture.
Earlier on Saturday, Bournemouth defeated Everton 3-0 in the opening match of the Premier League Summer Series, with goals from Philip Billing, Dango Ouattara, and Daniel Adu-Adjei.