United ended a nine-match winless run in dramatic fashion after coming from two goals down to beat Roma 3-2 in the Champions League at Old Trafford.
Michael Carrick’s side looked set for another damaging defeat after Roma scored twice inside the opening 20 minutes, but Bruno Fernandes and Matheus Cunha inspired a remarkable second-half turnaround.
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United punished by fast Roma start
Roma took the lead after 11 minutes when Matias Soule found space in the United defence and finished past goalkeeper Senne Lammens.
The visitors doubled their advantage six minutes later after Ayden Heaven was penalized for handball, allowing Donyell Malen to score from the spot.
The poor start increased pressure on Carrick, whose team had entered the match without a win in nine games in all competitions.
United supporters also voiced their frustration during the first half, with play briefly interrupted after tennis balls were thrown onto the pitch during a protest against the club’s owners.
Fernandes starts United comeback
The match changed shortly before the hour mark when United were awarded a penalty after Cunha went down under a challenge from Gianluca Mancini.
Fernandes initially saw his spot kick saved by Roma goalkeeper Devis Vasquez, but the penalty was ordered to be retaken because of encroachment.
The United captain converted at the second attempt in the 58th minute to reduce the deficit to 2-1.
Bryan Mbeumo then came close to equalizing when his effort struck both posts as United increased the pressure.
Cunha turns match around
Roma held their lead until the final stages, but a defensive mistake allowed United back into the contest.
Leonardo Balerdi failed to clear inside the penalty area, leaving Cunha with a simple finish to make it 2-2 in the 83rd minute.
Just three minutes later, Cunha struck again with a powerful effort to complete the comeback and send Old Trafford into celebration.
The Brazilian’s night ended on a sour note, however.
After being booked for celebrating his winning goal in the crowd, Cunha received a second yellow card in stoppage time following a late challenge.
United were forced to finish the match with 10 players but held on for a 3-2 victory.
Carrick earns much-needed relief
The result brought an end to United’s longest winless sequence in decades and eased some of the pressure surrounding Carrick.
Before the match, questions had intensified over the manager’s future following poor domestic and European results, including a 2-0 defeat to Chelsea.
Carrick said after the match that the atmosphere at Old Trafford helped his players believe the game could still change.
The victory also gave United renewed hope in the Champions League after successive defeats to Atletico Madrid and Como.
Roma suffer another European collapse
Roma will be left frustrated after surrendering another strong position in Europe.
They had also lost 4-3 to Real Madrid earlier in the campaign despite leading 3-1 late in that match.
Manager Gian Piero Gasperini admitted his side failed to protect their advantage once United increased the intensity after the break.
For United, the challenge now is to build on the victory rather than allow the result to become another brief improvement in an otherwise difficult season.
