Amorim’s reign at Manchester United began with a modest draw at Ipswich

IPSWICH, England: Manchester United had to settle for a 1-1 draw against lowly Ipswich Town in Portuguese manager Ruben Amorim’s first match in charge as Marcus Rashford’s early goal was canceled out by Omari Hutchinson’s deflected shot in the Premier League on Sunday.

There was a tense atmosphere at Portman Road but United silenced the home fans when they took the lead in the 81st second through Rashford, who sneaked between two defenders to head home from Amad’s brilliant strike down the right.

United goalkeeper Andre Onana made a brilliant one-handed save to deny Liam Delap from going close on the stroke of half-time, but Ipswich equalized in the 43rd minute when Hutchinson fired into the top corner, helped by a deflection off visiting defender Noussair Mazraoui.

After the break, Ipswich striker Sam Szmodic nearly scored with a backheel but Onana’s kick was saved but neither side could find a winner. The result leaves United in 12th place with 16 points, six points less than the top four. Ipswich are 18th with nine.

Jonny Evans, Christian Eriksen and Alejandro Garnacho returned to United’s starting line-up as 39-year-old Amorim made three changes from the win over Leicester City in their final match under caretaker manager Ruud van Nistelrooy two weeks ago.

Amorim replaced Erik ten Hag after the Dutchman was sacked and United fans were keen to see how he would change the squad as the former Sporting manager tries to bring success to the Old Trafford club after years of failure.

United’s players huddled before kick-off and then started in a 3-4-2-1 formation with Mazraoui in the back three alongside Matthijs de Ligt and Evans.

It was United’s first visit to Ipswich in 22 years – Van Nistelrooy scored the only goal of the day – but the hosts were stunned when the visitors took the lead through Rashford.

Amorim didn’t raise a smile after the goal, knowing there was a long way to go and a lot of work ahead, but United fans were already singing the Portuguese manager’s name.

Ipswich traded blows with United as they tried to restore level terms and after Eriksen struck low, Szmodic fired home for the home side. Garnacho also saw his shot go wide of the post with little effort before Hutchinson’s shot was blocked.

Then, five minutes before the break, Onana made a brilliant stop to deny Delap from point-blank range after fine work from Leif Davies on the left flank to lift the ball across the area.

However, it didn’t take long for Ipswich to equalize and this time not even Onana could do anything to prevent Hutchinson’s deflected shot from hitting the top corner to the delight of singer Ed Sheeran and the rest of the home fans.

Ipswich striker Szmodic nearly put the hosts ahead with a deft backheel from close range seven minutes into the second half as the Blues felt they could take three points.

The closest United came then was Fernandes’ free-kick, which flew wide and it was Ipswich who nearly grabbed the winner, but Conor Chaplin’s side-foot went straight to Onana from substitute Jack Clarke’s cross.

A draw was the right result in the end after United’s fast start. It’s been 11 years since they won the Premier League under Alex Ferguson and after that last low-key performance, Amorim has a lot of work to do to make them contenders again.