MU Finally Win: Dramatic Comeback Against Roma, Is Michael Carrick's Position Safe?

Manchester United have finally ended their miserable winless run. After falling two goals behind against AS Roma, the Red Devils mounted a dramatic comeback to secure a 3-2 victory in their 2026/2027 Champions League group stage fixture at Old Trafford, early morning WIB on Wednesday 4 November.

This win carries enormous weight for Michael Carrick. Beyond locking down three critical home points for Manchester United, this result also broke the Red Devils' nine-match winless streak across all competitions.

Prior to this match, United had gone more than 50 days without tasting victory. Last weekend's defeat against Chelsea had placed Carrick under intense pressure. With the club retaining him despite swirling speculation over his future, this Roma fixture stood as a make-or-break test for the manager.

However, the first half only exposed United's long-running flaws. Their defence once again looked brittle, and Roma ruthlessly exploited the gaps to open up a two-goal lead inside just 17 minutes.

Matias Soulé opened the scoring for the visitors in the 11th minute. Collecting a perfectly weighted pass from Rodrigo Mora, the Argentine forward found unmarked space on United's defensive flank before beating Goalkeeper Senne Lammens.

Six minutes later, Roma extended their lead from the penalty spot. The referee pointed to the mark after Ayden Heaven committed a handball inside the 18-yard box. Donyell Malen converted the kick cleanly, putting the away side 2-0 up.

Roma came close to stretching their lead further before half time. Soulé struck the goalpost with an effort, while United's backline could not keep up with the sharp movement of Roma's attacking players.

This dire situation forced Carrick to devise a solution for the second half. United needed a drastic reaction, not just to claw their way back into this match, but to salvage their Champions League campaign hopes.

The turning point arrived in the 58th minute. Manchester United were awarded a penalty after Gianluca Mancini fouled Matheus Cunha inside the penalty area.

Bruno Fernandes saw his first penalty attempt saved by the Roma keeper. However, match official Jesús Gil Manzano ordered the kick retaken after VAR confirmed multiple Roma players had entered the penalty box early. On his second attempt, the United captain successfully found the net to pull the score back to 1-2.

Bruno Fernandes' goal completely shifted the match momentum. United lifted their intensity, played with far greater aggression and began applying relentless, sustained pressure on the Roma defence.

Bryan Mbeumo came within inches of equalising only to see his strike hit the woodwork. Harry Maguire also created a clear goalscoring chance from a set piece.

The home side's pressure finally paid off with an equaliser in the 83rd minute. A defensive error from Roma saw the ball drop perfectly for Cunha. The Brazilian striker made no mistake with the finish, levelling the score at 2-2.

Old Trafford erupted just three minutes later. Cunha netted his second goal of the night after receiving a through ball from young academy player Shea Lacey. His powerful near-post strike beat the Roma keeper completely, putting United 3-2 ahead.

This victory remained far from secure however. Cunha was dismissed in the 90th minute after picking up a second yellow card for a foul on Leonardo Balerdi, leaving United to close out the match with 10 men.

Roma attempted to capitalise on their numerical advantage during the final stoppage minutes. Nevertheless, United held their defensive shape and protected their lead until the final whistle blew.

This result lifts Manchester United to six points from four Champions League group stage matches. They had previously collected three points from a 4-0 win over Sabah, before suffering back-to-back defeats against Atletico Madrid and Como.

Even so, this victory over Roma does not resolve all of United's underlying issues. Their defence still displayed clear vulnerabilities, particularly when defending opposition counter attacks and dynamic off-ball movement.

Carrick also still faces a massive challenge in domestic league action. Ahead of this Roma fixture, United sat 17th in the Premier League with just seven points from nine matches, only sitting above the relegation zone on goal difference.

For this reason, this Old Trafford win can act as a starting point to rebuild squad confidence. United will next face Aston Villa in the Premier League on Sunday 8 November 2026.

For Carrick, this result against Roma has at least granted him a small amount of breathing room. But one dramatic comeback victory will not erase the pressure on his position. United must now prove this revival is not just a one-off burst, but the start of the consistent form that has eluded them for so long.