MU Finally Wins: Matheus Cunha Delivers the Victory That Carrick Needed.

Matheus Cunha was the central figure behind Manchester United's dramatic comeback against AS Roma in the 2026/2027 Champions League fixture. Two goals scored just three minutes apart saw the Red Devils overturn a two-goal deficit to claim a 3-2 win at Old Trafford, in the early hours of Wednesday 4 November WIB.

As the match reached the 83rd minute, United still trailed 1-2. The home side's hopes of avoiding defeat were fading rapidly, after Roma had put in an efficient first half performance with goals from Matias Soulé and a converted penalty from Donyell Malen.

However, Cunha would completely alter the final result. The Brazilian forward capitalised on a defensive error from Roma to net the equaliser in the 83rd minute. Just three minutes later, he scored again after receiving a perfectly weighted through ball from young academy player Shea Lacey.

This second goal demonstrated Cunha's elite finishing quality. He controlled the ball cleanly inside the penalty area before unleashing a powerful strike towards the near post that the Roma Goalkeeper could not reach.

These two goals did not only secure all three points for United, they also ended the club's nine match winless run across all competitions. Cunha was the undisputed match winning player on this night that saw the Red Devils finally turn their form around.

The role of Bruno Fernandes was also equally critical. United's captain halved the deficit from the penalty spot in the 58th minute, after his first penalty attempt was ordered to be retaken when Roma players entered the box prematurely.

Fernandes' goal reignited United's confidence. From that point onwards the home side increased their pressure, and Roma began to struggle to maintain their defensive structure.

Cunha had already made a vital contribution before scoring himself. It was his foul by Gianluca Mancini that awarded United the penalty in the first place. This meant the Brazilian forward was directly involved in both of United's crucial second half goals.

Another standout performer was Shea Lacey. The 19 year old academy graduate was substituted on in the 75th minute, and provided the match winning assist for Cunha. His bravery to take responsibility in this high pressure situation was one of the biggest positive takeaways from the game.

Michael Carrick specifically praised the teenager in his post match remarks.

“I am so happy for Shea. He is an incredibly talented player. Everyone here loves him, and he has the full respect of all his teammates. Watching young players get an opportunity like this is one of the greatest parts of this job,” Carrick stated, quoted by The Guardian.

This praise reflected that the victory over Roma was not just about senior players delivering. The trust placed in Lacey also proved that academy graduates can make a real difference when the team needs a solution.

Unfortunately, Cunha's special night ended with a red card. He received his second yellow card in the 90+1st minute for a foul on a Roma player. His first booking had been issued for his goal celebration in front of the United home supporters.

Even after losing Cunha late in the fixture, United managed to hold onto their lead until the final whistle. With this result, Manchester United have now collected 6 points from 4 matches in the Champions League group stage.

For Cunha personally, these two goals against Roma could act as the momentum to boost his scoring form. Before this match, he had only registered one goal in the Premier League and one goal in the Champions League for the 2026/2027 season.

But his biggest impact in this victory was not just adding to his personal statistics. Cunha saved United from defeat, reignited the atmosphere inside Old Trafford, and delivered the desperately needed win that Michael Carrick's side had been craving.