Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) - Manchester United of England put an end to a series of nine matches without victory in various competitions when it turned the tables on its Italian guest Roma, turning a 2-0 deficit into a 3-2 win thanks to a brace by its Brazilian international striker Matheus Cunha on Tuesday at Old Trafford in Manchester in the fourth round of the Unified Group League for the European Champions League football competition.

Published on: 03/11/2026 - 23:35

The state of anger among the home fans seemed close to rebellion after Roma took a 2-0 lead within the first 20 minutes through Argentine Matias Sole (11) and Dutchman Donyiel Malen (17 from a penalty kick), but the Red Devils came back strongly in the second half and scored three goals through their captain Bruno Fernandes (58 from a penalty kick that was retaken twice) and Cunha (83 and 86), and they gave their coach, who was under great pressure, Michael Carrick, a moral boost. Precious.

It seemed that the decision to give Carrick a new opportunity backfired negatively in light of United's very lackluster performance in the first half.

However, Roma failed again to get rid of the complex of its previous matches at Old Trafford, in a new remarkable collapse in the Champions League.

Last month, coach Jean Piero Gasperini's team lost to Spanish Real Madrid 3-4 after leading 3-1 just eight minutes before the end.

The Italian team also suffered defeat in all five of its visits to the “Theater of Dreams”, most notably when Carrick scored two goals in a landslide 7-1 victory in the quarter-finals of the Champions League 19 years ago.

Carrick responded to the reckless expulsion of his Argentine defender, Lisandro Martinez, in the 0-2 loss to Chelsea in the league on Saturday, by removing him from the starting lineup.

But that did not make much difference, as his disorganized defense was torn apart during the first 20 minutes.

Solé had a large space to receive a pass from Portuguese Rodrigo Moura behind the defense, so he prepared it for himself at the edge of the area, then penetrated before shooting it past Belgian goalkeeper Ceni Lamins in the 11th minute.

Moments later, Manchester United seemed completely exposed again on the left side, so Sule's shot hit the outstretched hand of defender Aiden Haven, awarding a penalty kick to which Malen successfully scored his twelfth goal of the season.

The match was temporarily stopped in the middle of the first half after fans threw tennis balls onto the field, coinciding with chants demanding that the American Glazer family, which owns the club, sell Manchester United.

United suffered a new blow just two minutes after the start of the second half, when Cameroonian international newcomer Carlos Baleba, whose deal was worth 70 million pounds ($94 million), suffered a suspected serious injury to the hamstring muscle while rushing into the Roma penalty area.

But Carrick's luck changed just before the hour mark when Cunha won a controversial penalty kick following limited contact from Gianluca Mancini.

Roma's third goalkeeper, Colombian Davis Vasques, blocked Fernandez's first attempt, but the referee ordered a replay due to the visiting team's players entering the penalty area early, and the United captain succeeded in scoring from the second attempt, sparking the comeback.

Seconds later, another Cameroonian international Brian Mbomo's shot bounced off the goalposts, while Roma captain Brian Cristante was forced to clear the ball off the goal line, with luck continuing to support the visitors.

But Argentine defender Leonardo Balerdi's attempt to clear the ball was completely wrong inside the penalty area, giving Cunha the easiest opportunity to equalize seven minutes before the end.

After only three minutes, the Brazilian fired a powerful shot that hit Vazquez's net at the near post, before throwing himself into the crowd to celebrate the goal that decided the match.

However, this celebration was costly, as Cunha received a yellow card before being sent off after receiving a second warning following a violent intervention in stoppage time.

Despite the numerical disadvantage, the home side maintained their lead to breathe new life into their Champions League campaign after two successive defeats against Spain's Atletico Madrid and Italy's Como.

United raised its score to six points in seventeenth place, compared to four points for Roma nineteenth.

© 2026 AFP

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