Manchester United have finally tasted victory again. The Red Devils recovered from a two-goal deficit to beat Italian side Roma 3-2 in the Champions League at Old Trafford on Tuesday night, snapping a run of nine matches without a win across all competitions.
The result comes as welcome relief for manager Michael Carrick. Channels TV described the United boss as "beleaguered" and said the win handed him a lifeline after a difficult spell for the Manchester club.
Roma strike twice in quick succession
For much of the first half, it looked like another painful night for United fans. According to Kemi Filani News, the Serie A visitors needed only six minutes to score two goals before the break. Matias Soule got the opener, and Donyell Malan then converted a penalty to put Roma 2-0 in front.
Bruno's retaken penalty sparks the fightback
The match changed after the interval. United captain Bruno Fernandes stepped up for a spot-kick that had to be taken twice, reportedly because a Roma player encroached into the box. The Portuguese midfielder stayed calm on the second attempt and found the net to halve the deficit.
United kept pushing. Bryan Mbeumo, the Cameroon international, saw an effort strike both posts without going in, but the pressure eventually told. Matheus Cunha pounced on a mistake by Roma defender Leonardo Balerdi to bring the hosts level.
Cunha's late winner, then a red card
The Brazilian forward was not done. With four minutes of normal time remaining, Cunha fired in a powerful shot from a tight angle to complete the turnaround and send Old Trafford into celebration.
His evening ended on a sour note, however. As the clock ticked into added time, Cunha picked up a second yellow card and was sent off, leaving United with ten men for the closing stages. Backed by a roaring home crowd, the Red Devils held on to secure the three points.
Why the win matters
Before Tuesday, United had gone nine games without a victory in all competitions, a run that had piled pressure on Carrick. Kemi Filani News summed up the mood bluntly, reporting: "Manchester United finally won a game of football." Channels TV said the comeback eased the pressure on the manager, though one result alone is unlikely to settle every question around the team.
For the many Nigerian supporters of the Old Trafford club, the night offered something they had been waiting weeks for: a fightback, a hero in Cunha and, at last, a win to talk about.
