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MANCHESTER — Bruno Fernandes scored his first hat-trick in English football in front of a raucous Old Trafford as Manchester United thrashed Leeds United 5-1 to get their Premier League season off to a flying start on Saturday.
French midfielder Paul Pogba also starred with four assists - one more than he managed in the whole of last season in the league - to help United run riot in front of their first full crowd in 17 months.
Fernandes got the goalscoring underway on the half hour mark, before a Luke Ayling thunderbolt out of nowhere levelled things up three minutes into the second half.
The PASS.
The FINISH.Manchester United are on the board! #MyPLMorningNBCSN pic.twitter.com/yljDUXh9Rm
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) August 14, 2021
WHAT A HIT. Leeds equalize!
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) August 14, 2021
It was only a short reprieve for Leeds, however, as Man United livewire Mason Greenwood fired the hosts back in front before Fernandes added a quickfire third to put Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side in command.
THAT MAN MASON GREENWOOD puts United back in front!
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) August 14, 2021
WE'RE TRYING TO GET ALL THE GOAL HIGHLIGHTS OUT AS FAST AS WE CAN.
Bruno JUST sneaks this one over the line to extend United's lead! #MyPLMorningNBCSN pic.twitter.com/xL2MeilSkh
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) August 14, 2021
Fernandes completed his treble with another fine finish on the hour mark, before Brazilian Fred got in on the act to complete the rout and cap a memorable afternoon for the hosts, who laid down an early marker in the Premier League title race.
HAT TRICK HERO. Bruno deposits his third of the match!#MyPLMorning
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) August 14, 2021
Make it FIVE! #MyPLMorning pic.twitter.com/zD1CGlvCGF
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) August 14, 2021
"My objective every season is being better than the last," Fernandes told BT Sport. "Every performance I do, I want to do better and better. I've started with three goals but it’s a long way to go.
"We know the quality of the players who have come in, but the team was already very good. We showed it last season. We didn’t win trophies, but the team was growing up. Our focus has to be game by game. We’ll achieve something with this mentality."
Pogba missed a glorious chance to open the scoring, slotting wide with the goal at his mercy, and the Yorkshire side then grew into the match with Mateusz Klich forcing a fine save from home goalkeeper David de Gea before striker Rodrigo headed wide.
The hosts, who welcomed new signing Raphael Varane onto the pitch pre-match, began to look nervy with the pressure of an expectant crowd, anticipating their first sustained league title challenge since Sir Alex Ferguson’s final season in 2012-13, seemingly weighing upon them.
But their top goalscorer from last season, Fernandes, came up with the goods once more to settle the nerves, collecting a perfect pass from Pogba before slotting under onrushing Leeds keeper Illan Meslier.
Ayling’s strike from 25 yards out sparked scenes of wild celebration among Leeds’ travelling supporters, who had waited 17 years to see their side truly compete down the M62 motorway at Old Trafford.
Their joy, however, was shortlived, as another sublime pass from Pogba picked out the onrushing Greenwood, with the Yorkshire-born teenager giving United the lead again less than two minutes later.
Soon enough it was three, as the effervescent Pogba picked out Fernandes again, before Lindelof floated a pass over the top for the Portuguese to add this third. Fernandes is the first United player to score a hat-trick on the opening day of a league season since Lou Macari against Birmingham City in 1977-78.
4 - Paul Pogba is the 7th different player to register four assists in a single Premier League match, and the first Man Utd player to do so. The Frenchman made just three assists in his 26 league games in total last season. Fantastic. #MUNLEE
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) August 14, 2021
3 - This is the 3rd time @ManUtd have had a player score a hat-trick (Fernandes) and had a player provide at least 3 assists (Pogba) in a Premier League game:
Aug 2011 v Arsenal (Rooney 3 goals, Young 3 assists).
Oct 1997 v Barnsley (Cole 3 goals, Solskjaer 3 assists). Trebles.— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) August 14, 2021
Fred’s finish in the 68th minute made it five, with fans calling for a sixth – a repeat of last season’s haul against Leeds at Old Trafford – as big-money summer signing Jadon Sancho came off the bench.
While a sixth goal was not to be, the emphatic victory will no doubt underline United's credentials as contenders for the title.
(Reporting by Peter Hall; Editing by Hugh Lawson)
