AFCON 2025
Manchester United produced one of the more improbable results of the Champions League league phase on Tuesday night, overturning a 2-0 deficit to defeat AS Roma 3-2 at Old Trafford.
Matías Soulé and Donyell Malen had the visitors in control inside 18 minutes. Bruno Fernandes pulled one back from a retaken penalty just before the hour, before Matheus Cunha scored twice in the final stages to complete a dramatic turnaround.
The Brazilian was later sent off in stoppage time. The victory ended a nine-match winless run and offered temporary relief for under-pressure manager Michael Carrick.
Here are three key takeaways from the night.
1. Character Still Exists, But the First-Half Problems Remain Urgent
For 45 minutes United looked exactly like a side that had not won in nine games. Roma exploited space behind the full-backs, particularly on the right, and punished poor defensive organisation. Soulé’s opener and Malen’s penalty exposed the same structural vulnerabilities that have defined United’s season: slow transitions into a defensive shape, individual errors under pressure, and a lack of midfield control.
The second-half response was genuine and showed a team willing to fight. United increased intensity, won the ball higher, and showed the kind of collective will that had been missing. That fight is real and valuable.
It does not, however, erase the systemic issues. A team that can be two goals down so quickly against a mid-table Serie A side will continue to struggle unless the defensive structure and midfield balance improve. The character that secured three points cannot be relied upon every week as a substitute for better organisation.
2. Matheus Cunha Is the Difference
Cunha’s impact was decisive. He won the penalty that gave United a foothold, then scored the equaliser and the winner in the space of a few minutes. His movement, technical quality in tight areas, and willingness to take responsibility in the final third stood out on a night when many teammates laboured.
United have lacked a reliable, high-quality forward presence capable of deciding tight matches.
Cunha provided exactly that. The late red card was unfortunate and avoidable, but it does not diminish the scale of his contribution. In a squad still searching for consistent creativity and finishing, Cunha looks like the player most capable of changing the trajectory of games. His form and availability will be critical as United attempt to climb the Premier League table and progress in Europe.
3. The Result Buys Carrick Time
The win ends the nine-game drought and eases the immediate pressure on Michael Carrick. Going into the match, every result carried the weight of potential managerial change. Three points in the Champions League, secured in dramatic fashion in front of a relieved Old Trafford, will quiet some of the external noise, at least temporarily.
Yet the broader picture remains difficult. United sit near the bottom of the Premier League, the performances remain inconsistent, and the squad still shows clear gaps in balance and quality in key areas.
