Manchester United forward Matheus Cunha experienced an unforgettable night at Old Trafford after scoring twice to complete a remarkable comeback against Roma before receiving a red card in the closing stages of the Champions League encounter.
The Brazilian attacker was the hero of the evening as Manchester United recovered from a two-goal deficit to secure a 3-2 victory on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. However, his celebrations turned into disappointment when he was sent off shortly after scoring the winning goal.
Roma started the encounter strongly and stunned the home supporters by taking a 2-0 lead inside the opening 17 minutes. MatÃas Soulé opened the scoring before Donyell Malen converted a penalty to put the visitors in a commanding position.
Manchester United struggled to respond during the first half, with supporters becoming increasingly frustrated by their team’s performance. The players went into the dressing room two goals behind, and manager Michael Carrick needed a strong response from his squad.
The second half produced a completely different performance from the home side. United increased their attacking intensity and began putting Roma under serious pressure.
Their comeback started when Cunha won a penalty after being brought down inside the box. Bruno Fernandes initially saw his effort saved, but the referee ordered a retake following an infringement by a Roma player. The Portuguese captain converted the second attempt to reduce the deficit.
United continued pushing forward, and their persistence eventually paid off in the 83rd minute. A defensive mistake from Roma allowed Cunha to find himself in a promising position, and the Brazilian calmly finished to bring the score level.
Old Trafford erupted as supporters began believing that their team could complete an extraordinary comeback.
Just three minutes later, Cunha delivered another decisive moment. Following an excellent attacking move involving academy youngster Shea Lacey, the Brazilian received a pass and produced a powerful finish to put Manchester United ahead for the first time in the match.
His second goal sparked wild celebrations among the players and supporters. Cunha removed his shirt and jumped into the crowd to celebrate with the Manchester United fans.
However, the celebration came at a cost. The referee showed him a yellow card for removing his shirt and entering the crowd.
The situation became even worse when Cunha committed a late challenge on Roma defender Leonardo Balerdi during the closing stages.
Having already received a booking, the Brazilian was shown a second yellow card, resulting in his dismissal in stoppage time.
Cunha appeared disappointed as he realised he would have to leave the pitch despite being the player responsible for turning the game around.
Manchester United were forced to defend their advantage with ten men, but they managed to hold on and secure all three points.
The victory was particularly important for Carrick, whose position had come under pressure following a difficult run of results. United had gone nine matches without a win before the dramatic Champions League success.
Speaking after the match, Carrick praised Cunha’s contribution but admitted that he was disappointed with how the evening ended for the forward.
The manager recognised the Brazilian’s ability to produce decisive moments, explaining that his passion and willingness to fight for the team were important qualities.
Nevertheless, Cunha’s dismissal means Manchester United must prepare for their next European challenge without him if the suspension is applied.
Despite the red card, the Brazilian deserves recognition for his outstanding second-half performance. Scoring twice in such an important match demonstrated his attacking quality and determination.
Manchester United supporters will hope he learns from the incident and continues delivering important performances without putting himself at risk of unnecessary suspensions.
For Cunha, it was a night of incredible highs and frustrating lows: he rescued Manchester United with two goals, but his late dismissal ensured that his remarkable performance ended on a controversial note.
