From booed off to buzzing in 45 minutes
Old Trafford was not a happy place at the break. Roma had scored twice inside 17 minutes, the second a Donyell Malen penalty, and Manchester United trudged off to boos on Tuesday night in the Champions League.
The second half belonged to the home side. Bruno Fernandes pulled one back from the spot in the 58th minute, though only after the penalty was retaken. Bryan Mbeumo then hit both posts with a single shot, a sequence that summed up how close United were to the equaliser long before it came.
Matheus Cunha finally broke through in the 83rd minute, pouncing after a poor clearance from Leonardo Balerdi. Three minutes later he struck again, finishing at the near post from a pass by Shea Lacey to make it 3-2.
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A win that United badly needed
This was United’s first victory in 10 games and their first in 54 days. Michael Carrick, in charge of the dugout, had been under heavy pressure after the defeat at Chelsea, and the manner of this comeback will buy him some breathing space.
Cunha’s night did not end cleanly. He was shown a red card in added time for a foul, so his availability for the next European game is now in question. Carlos Baleba also went off early in the second half with a hamstring problem, so the injury list may have grown too.
“Hopefully this win today gives the start of something good for us,” Fernandes said afterwards. Carrick called it an important night and singled out Lacey for his contribution.
For Roma, it is a painful way to lose. Gian Piero Gasperini’s side came into the game unbeaten in Serie A and looked in control until the hour mark. The collapse started with one error at the back and finished with a goalscorer they could not stop.
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