Manchester United snatched a chaotic 3-2 Champions League victory over AS Roma at Old Trafford on Tuesday night, with Matheus Cunha's late double papering over familiar cracks. The win, which ends a five-match winless streak, was secured despite the hosts falling two goals behind inside the opening 20 minutes.
Matias Soule put Roma ahead after 11 minutes, and Donyell Malen doubled the lead from the penalty spot six minutes later. Bruno Fernandes pulled one back with a penalty of his own just before the hour mark, setting the stage for Cunha's dramatic intervention. The Brazilian forward levelled the scores in the 83rd minute before heading in Shea Lacey's cross three minutes later to complete the turnaround. Cunha's night ended in disgrace, however, as he was sent off in stoppage time for a second bookable offence.
Goalkeeper gamble backfires
Roma arrived in Manchester with a significant selection headache in goal. Third-choice keeper Pierluigi Gollini was ruled out with a back injury sustained in training, forcing coach Gian Piero Gasperini to hand a Champions League debut to Devis Vásquez. The Colombian, who had played just one competitive match last season for Besiktas, was thrust into the spotlight but could not prevent the late collapse.
Carrick's United side, languishing in 17th place in the Premier League with just seven points from nine games, showed the fragility that has plagued their domestic campaign. They conceded early from a swift Roma counter and then gave away a soft penalty, with Harry Maguire eventually booked for the foul. The team's standings position, a full 17 points behind leaders Arsenal, shows the scale of the task ahead.
A flicker of hope
Cunha's late heroics provided a rare moment of celebration for the Old Trafford faithful. His first was a sharp finish from inside the box, and his second a powerful header from Lacey's pinpoint delivery. The 19-year-old substitute, introduced alongside Lisandro Martínez and Youri Tielemans, made an immediate impact with his assist. The victory moves United forward in their Champions League group, but the overriding narrative remains one of a club in deep trouble. Top scorer Mbeumo, who has four goals this season, was kept quiet throughout the match.
The focus now shifts instantly to a critical Premier League fixture. Manchester United host Aston Villa at Old Trafford on Sunday, a match they desperately need to win to begin climbing away from the relegation zone. The Villa game kicks off at 16:30 local time.
