Manchester United kicked off their Premier League Summer Series campaign with a 2-1 victory over West Ham United at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Saturday, July 26, 2025. Captain Bruno Fernandes was the star of the show, netting both goals for Ruben Amorim’s side, while Jarrod Bowen pulled one back for the Hammers.
The match, played in hot and humid conditions, saw Manchester United assert early dominance. Danish striker Rasmus Højlund, starting up front, nearly opened the scoring in the opening minutes, hitting the woodwork after a quick break. Moments later, West Ham goalkeeper Alphonse Areola made a costly error, fumbling a set-piece delivery after colliding with El Hadji Malick Diouf and then fouling Ayden Heaven in the box. Bruno Fernandes calmly converted the resulting penalty in the 4th minute, sending Areola the wrong way to give United an early lead. (NBC Sports)
United continued to press, with new signing Matheus Cunha, who looked bright in his first start alongside Fernandes and Højlund, linking up well around the box. Amad Diallo also came close to doubling the lead in the 38th minute, but his effort was disallowed for a narrow offside. West Ham had their moments, with Tomas Soucek missing a close-range header just before halftime. Ruben Amorim, speaking to NBC at halftime, expressed satisfaction with his team’s effort, particularly their defensive transitions, while acknowledging the need for longer possessions. (Daily Mail)
The second half saw Fernandes quickly extend United’s lead. In the 52nd minute, after good work from Kobbie Mainoo, Fernandes caught Areola off-guard with a precise finish from the edge of the box, completing his brace. However, West Ham responded in the 63rd minute when Jarrod Bowen held off Ayden Heaven to unleash a powerful right-footed shot past Altay Bayındır, halving the deficit. Following Bowen’s goal, a hydration break prompted Amorim to make a wholesale change, replacing all outfield players except Bayındır, introducing a younger-looking side including Mason Mount, Harry Maguire, and Casemiro. (Sports Illustrated)
Bruno Fernandes was widely lauded as the Man of the Match for his influential performance and two goals. Sports Illustrated rated him 8/10, highlighting his impact. Other notable performances included Matheus Cunha (6/10), who is still adapting to the system but showed promise, and Rasmus Højlund (6/10), who worked hard despite not scoring. West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen (6/10) reflected on his goal, stating he had been practicing with his right foot to keep defenders guessing. (The Sun)
New Manchester United signing Bryan Mbeumo, a Cameroonian international, was with the team in the U.S. but did not participate in the match as he works his way back to full match fitness. He is expected to feature in upcoming games. The Premier League Summer Series continues, with Manchester United set to face Bournemouth in Chicago at Soldier Field on Wednesday. West Ham will also be in Chicago, taking on Everton in an earlier fixture. In the day’s other Summer Series match, Bournemouth secured a convincing 3-0 victory over Everton.
