Manchester United welcomed AS Roma to Old Trafford in a crucial Champions League tie.
First half
United had started their last two European ties in terrible fashion by going a goal down inside two minutes, and whilst they lasted longer this time, they were behind after 11 minutes.
Matias Soule found himself in acres of space in the box, and he tucked his effort into the bottom corner under no sort of pressure at all.
United responded well to the familiar feeling of going behind, and Bruno Fernandes’ ball across the area just missed the onrushing Matheus Cunha. Things got even worse for United during the midpoint of the half when the ball hit Ayden Heaven and again VAR intervened and gave a penalty to the visitors.
Donyell Malen tucked away the chance to double the Italian side’s lead. The Dutch striker almost could not believe his luck when he was almost gifted a third after a defensive mess, but he could not manage to finish his chance.
United continued to flounder, and Leny Yoro had to make a last-ditch tackle to stop Rodrigo Mora from scoring the third for the visitors. Fernandes scooped a ball over the bar before Malen forced a top-drawer stretching save from Senne Lammens.
The half-time whistle blew with the Old Trafford faithful once again less than satisfied with what they had witnessed.
Second half
The second half started in the worst way, as Carlos Baleba picked up an injury and had to be replaced by Youri Tielemans.
United got a lifeline, though, when Matheus Cunha went down under a challenge and Bruno Fernandes stepped up but had his effort saved by the Roma keeper.
Luckily, VAR intervened again, and Fernandes put away his second attempt. Game on.
Bryan Mbeumo and United had their tails up, and he was put through on goal but his shot managed to hit the inside of both posts before bouncing out. United pushed and pushed, and Diogo Dalot had an effort cleared off the line before Harry Maguire headed wide from a corner.
On 77 minutes, Matheus Cunha cut in and fiercely drove at goal, and the Roma keeper parried away. Shea Lacey was brought down in the area, and the home crowd demanded a penalty, but their pleas were waved away by the referee.
Old Trafford burst into life on 83 minutes when a Fernandes ball into the box was air-kicked by the defender, and Cunha kept his cool to slot in to equalise.
The Red Devils summoned energy from times gone by when Shea Lacey played a stunning through ball to Cunha, who fired in from a tight angle to send Old Trafford into raptures. 3-2 United, and Cunha raced into the crowd to lap up their adulation.
Five minutes were added on, and Cunha, the hero seconds earlier, became the villain when he was sent off for a second yellow offence in added time. United breathed a huge sigh of relief when Santiago Castro’s header drifted just wide of Lammens’ goal in front of the Stretford End.
The Red Devils held out and finally won their first match in just under two months.
Starting XI: Lammens, Yoro, Maguire, Heaven, Dalot, Mainoo, Baleba, Amad, Fernandes, Mbeumo, Cunha
Subs: Tielemans, Martinez, Lacey, De Ligt, Mount
Featured image by Carl Recine via Getty Images
