MANCHESTER, England: Manchester United came from two goals down to beat Nottingham Forest 3-2 in the Premier League on Saturday as Bruno Fernandes’ 76th-minute penalty completed a comeback after the visitors went down to 10 men.
United had their worst-ever start to a Premier League game as poor defending helped give Forest a 2-0 lead after less than four minutes. Taiwo Awoniyi put Forest ahead on a counterattack after just 86 seconds, with Willy Boly quickly doubling the lead from a free kick.
It was the first time United trailed by two goals four minutes into a Premier League match, but Christian Eriksen pulled one back by converting a cross from Marcus Rashford in the 17th.
Casemiro wasted a great chance to level but made amends shortly after halftime when the midfielder slotted home at the end of a clever free kick routine.
Joe Worrall was shown a straight red card for denying Fernandes a goalscoring opportunity in the 67th, and the United captain then scored the winner from the spot after Danilo was adjudged to have brought down Rashford.
It secured a second win in three games for United, after falling to a 2-0 loss at Tottenham last weekend.
“It wasn’t the perfect start for us but we kept control, kept the ball and started doing the right things,” Fernandes said. “They defended well with a lot of players and it was difficult to get through, but we got the result and that’s the most important thing.”
United duo Mason Mount and Luke Shaw both missed the game with injuries.
Man United erase early 2-goal deficit to beat Nottingham Forest 3-2 in Premier League
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Man United erase early 2-goal deficit to beat Nottingham Forest 3-2 in Premier League
- United had their worst-ever start to a Premier League game as poor defending helped give Forest a 2-0 lead after less than four minutes
- It was the first time United trailed by two goals four minutes into a Premier League match
Cristiano Ronaldo to feature at record 6th World Cup as Portugal thrash Armenia to qualify
- Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes and Paris Saint-Germain’s Joao Neves both scored a hat-trick
PORTO: Portugal crushed Armenia 9-1 despite the absence of suspended talisman Cristiano Ronaldo on Sunday to clinch qualification for the 2026 World Cup finals.
Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes and Paris Saint-Germain’s Joao Neves both scored a hat-trick as Roberto Martinez’s side racked up a huge win in Porto to top Group F.
Renato Veiga got the ball rolling for Portugal, with Goncalo Ramos and Francisco Conceicao also on the scoresheet.
After a draw in Hungary in October and a surprise defeat in Ireland on Thursday, in which Ronaldo was sent off, Portugal wrapped up qualification at the third attempt in their final group match.
They will compete in a seventh consecutive edition of the World Cup, a tournament which the Euro 2016 champions are yet to win.
“We always want to win in the same way — to be convincing and control the game. It’s not always possible, but today we were effective and achieved a good victory,” said Fernandes.
With midfielder Fernandes playing a key role throughout, Portugal made a quick start by scoring in the seventh minute.
Fernandes’s vicious inswinging free-kick from just outside the left side of the box was pushed onto the post by goalkeeper Henri Avagyan but Veiga was on hand to head home the rebound.
The visitors shocked the hosts by scoring on their first attack to equalize, with Grant-Leon Ranos crossing for Armenia captain Eduard Spertsyan to strike.
However, Portugal quickly stepped up a gear and racked up an unassailable lead. Paris Saint-Germain striker Ramos intercepted a back pass and squeezed home his country’s second after rounding Avagyan.
Portugal put together a tidy move for their third, with Neves blasting home from the edge of the box after being teed up by Fernandes.
Neves netted a spectacular second with a free-kick which flew into the top right corner, leaving Avagyan with no chance.
Fernandes netted the fifth in first half stoppage time with a low penalty after Ruben Dias was fouled.
- ‘Now we can truly dream’ -
The Manchester United midfielder continued where he left off after the break, slotting home his second after being fed by Ramos.
Fernandes completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot after debutant substitute Carlos Forbs was felled.
Neves followed suit for Portugal’s eighth goal, smashing home after Veiga headed Fernandes’s cross into his path.
Juventus forward Conceicao added the ninth in stoppage time to seal one of his country’s biggest-ever victories.
“Now we can truly dream about the World Cup, I was very pleased with the players’ response (after the Ireland defeat),” said Martinez.
“We’re at the World Cup! Let’s go, Portugal!” wrote Ronaldo on social media platform X.
The striker could miss the start of the tournament depending on whether FIFA extend his suspension beyond the mandatory one-match ban he served against Armenia.
Ireland stunned Hungary with a late winner to triumph 3-2 in the other Group F match and reach the play-offs, with Troy Parrott following up his midweek brace against Portugal with a hat-trick.
