Man United 3-2 Roma: Cunha double completes comeback, then a red card

Manchester United ended their nine-game winless run in the most dramatic way possible. Two goals down after 17 minutes against Roma at Old Trafford on Tuesday night, Michael Carrick's side won 3-2 on matchday 4 of the Champions League league phase. Bruno Fernandes scored from the spot at the second attempt, and Matheus Cunha struck twice in three minutes late on – before being sent off in stoppage time.

Roma in control early

Gian Piero Gasperini's side started as the in-form team they had been in Serie A. In the 11th minute Matías Soulé ran onto a ball over the top after United had given the ball away in their own half and beat Senne Lammens. Six minutes later Ayden Heaven, recalled to the back four, blocked a Soulé shot with his arm and Donyell Malen converted the penalty. At half-time the home crowd was restless and United looked headed for a tenth game without a win.

The turnaround

The game changed on 58 minutes. United won a penalty, Fernandes's first attempt was saved by Devis Vásquez – in goal because Mile Svilar and Pierluigi Gollini were both injured – but the kick was ordered to be retaken for encroachment, and the captain made no mistake the second time. Bryan Mbeumo then hit both posts as United pushed for an equaliser.

It came in the 83rd minute, when Cunha pounced after a poor clearance from Leonardo Balerdi. Three minutes later the Brazilian scored again to complete the comeback. His night still ended early: booked for taking his shirt off in celebration, he received a second yellow card for a late challenge on Balerdi in the first minute of stoppage time.

The match in numbers

Minute	Event	Score
11'	Soulé goal	0-1
17'	Malen penalty	0-2
58'	Fernandes penalty (retaken)	1-2
83'	Cunha goal	2-2
86'	Cunha goal	3-2
90+1'	Cunha sent off (second yellow)	–

In the Champions League table, United move from three to six points after four games – their second win following the 4-0 against Sabah on 10 September. Roma stay on four points. The top eight go straight into the last 16, places 9 to 24 into the knockout play-offs.

What it means

• Carrick: the win eases the pressure that had built during the run of three draws and six defeats. United's next game is in the Premier League against Aston Villa at Old Trafford on Sunday (8 November).
• Cunha: the red card means a suspension in the Champions League; as with Lisandro Martínez's red card at Chelsea, it does not carry over into domestic competition.
• Roma: the defeat ends a strong spell, and their winless record on English soil goes on.

Our take

For an hour this looked like the night that would decide Carrick's future. Roma pressed high, punished two United errors and could have been further ahead. What turned the game was the refusal to fold: United kept forcing the play, the retaken penalty gave the stadium something to hold on to, and Roma, with an inexperienced goalkeeper and tiring legs, defended deeper and deeper. The problems have not disappeared – United conceded early again, and Cunha's second yellow was unnecessary – but six points after four games puts a play-off place firmly within reach. For Roma the lesson is sharper: a 2-0 lead away from home in the Champions League has to be managed better.

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