Captain’s brace seals 2-1 victory in New Jersey as Red Devils begin US tour with a hard-fought triumph
Bruno Fernandes led by example as Manchester United opened their US pre-season tour with a 2-1 victory over West Ham in the Premier League Summer Series on Saturday, despite sweltering conditions at MetLife Stadium.
Fernandes Punishes Areola Errors
The Portuguese midfielder struck twice, capitalizing on two costly mistakes by West Ham goalkeeper Alphonse Areola to secure the win for Erik ten Hag’s side.
Fernandes opened the scoring just five minutes in from the penalty spot after Areola recklessly fouled young winger Ayden Heaven following a botched clearance. The United skipper sent the French keeper the wrong way with a composed finish.
He doubled the lead early in the second half after another disastrous moment from Areola, whose attempted pass out from the back was intercepted by Kobbie Mainoo. The 19-year-old midfielder quickly fed Fernandes, who dinked a delicate chip over the stranded keeper to make it 2-0.
West Ham pulled one back in the 63rd minute when Jarrod Bowen expertly curled past Altay Bayindir, but despite late pressure—including a sharp save from the Turkish goalkeeper in stoppage time—United held firm.
Ten Hag’s Side Builds Momentum
Fernandes, speaking post-match, emphasized the importance of building rhythm ahead of the new season.
“It’s good to win, even in a friendly—we want to prepare in the best way possible,” he told NBC Sports. “We were sharp on the ball, though we could’ve been more patient at times. But overall, it’s a positive start.”
New £70 million signing Bryan Mbeumo, who travelled with the squad, was left out of the matchday group but could make his debut when United face Bournemouth in Chicago on Wednesday.
For West Ham, the match highlighted defensive vulnerabilities, while United—despite some sloppy moments—will take confidence from their resilience in the heat. With the Premier League season just weeks away, both sides still have work to do, but Fernandes’ leadership ensured the Red Devils started their US tour on a winning note.
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