AAP Soccer

Fernandes equals assist record in United triumph

By AAP Newswire

May 18, 2026

Bruno Fernandes has equalled the Premier League assist record for a single season as Manchester United wrapped up third spot with an entertaining 3-2 victory over Nottingham Forest.

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The 31-year-old has sparkled since turning down overtures from Saudi Arabia last summer, helping United return to the Champions League and winning the Footballer of the Year award in the process.

Fernandes capped a wonderful campaign by setting up Bryan Mbeumo in Sunday's five-goal thriller as he equalled the Premier League record of 20 assists in a single campaign shared by Kevin De Bruyne and Thierry Henry.

It was a memorable final home game of the season for United, who celebrated the news Michael Carrick would be staying on as head coach and saluted Casemiro's career in his final Old Trafford appearance.

The Red Devils made a dream start when Luke Shaw scored his first goal since January 2023, only for Morato to head home a cross from summer target Elliot Anderson early in the second half.

United pulled back ahead immediately, but Forest fumed after referee Michael Salisbury deemed a Mbeumo handball in the build-up to Matheus Cunha's goal to be accidental after being sent to the pitchside monitor by the VAR.

Their mood would darken when Mbeumo turned in Fernandes' record-equalling cross, with captain Morgan Gibbs-White pulling one back superbly as Vitor Pereira's side pushed until the death.