Cunha's Late Double Completes Manchester United's 3-2 Comeback Against Roma

Manchester United beat Roma 3-2 at Old Trafford on Tuesday night, recovering from two goals down inside 18 minutes to win a Champions League tie that turned on Matheus Cunha's late double and a second-half collapse in Roma's attacking output.

Roma led 2-0 before the half-hour. Matias Soulé opened the scoring in the 11th minute, finishing left-footed from Rodrigo Mora's assist with an effort worth 0.42 xG. Seven minutes later Donyell Malen converted a penalty, and the visitors had a two-goal cushion from just three shots on target.

United's first half was possession without penetration. Ruben Amorim's side held 54 percent of the ball and completed 234 passes at 83 percent accuracy, but managed one shot on target and 0.24 xG across the opening 45 minutes. Roma's 3-4-2-1 sat compact, conceded the ball in midfield and broke through Soulé and Mora in the channels. United's 4-2-3-1 had 11 touches in the box before the break and no big chances.

Bruno Fernandes halved the deficit from the penalty spot in the 58th minute, converting an effort rated at 0.79 xG. That goal reset the match. United's second-half numbers were emphatic: 2.48 xG to Roma's 0.00, 10 shots to none, five on target to none, and 19 touches in the box to Roma's zero recorded.

Matheus Cunha equalised in the 83rd minute, finishing right-footed from Fernandes' assist with a 0.72 xG chance. Three minutes later he scored again, this time from Shea Lacey's pass, a lower-value opportunity at 0.11 xG that he converted to complete the turnaround. Cunha finished with two goals from 0.89 xG, the standout individual return of the night.

Roma's first-half performance was the more dangerous: 1.53 xG, seven shots, four on target and two big chances. After the interval they registered none of those. Malen, who scored the penalty, and Soulé, who opened the scoring, were the visitors' only consistent outlets, and both faded as United pushed higher and won 65 duels to Roma's 46 across the match.

United's set-piece edge was also pronounced: 0.41 xG from set plays to Roma's 0.06, and three corners to one. The hosts finished with 15 shots to Roma's seven, six on target to four, and 30 touches in the box to eight. Possession ended 52-48 in United's favour, but the territorial shift after half-time was the decisive factor: 223 passes in the opposition half to Roma's 160, and 113 to 61 in the second half alone.

Cunha's night ended in the 91st minute when he was shown a second yellow card and sent off, a sour note on an otherwise decisive performance. United saw out the remaining minutes to secure the win. The result leaves United with three points from their opening Champions League fixture, while Roma will rue a first half they controlled and a second half they surrendered.