Manchester United 3–2 Roma: Cunha's two goals in three minutes complete a comeback from 2–0 down
Manchester United came from 2–0 down to beat Roma 3–2 at Old Trafford on Tuesday 3 November 2026 in the UEFA Champions League league phase, Matchday 4. Roma led 2–0 at half-time through Matías Soulé in the 11th minute and a Donyell Malen penalty in the 17th; Bruno Fernandes pulled one back with a retaken penalty in the 58th minute, and Matheus Cunha scored in the 83rd and 86th minutes to win it — before being sent off in stoppage time. The win ends United's nine-match winless run in all competitions.
Key points
- Final: Manchester United 3, Roma 2 — Old Trafford, Tuesday 3 November 2026 (0–2 at half-time).
- Scorers: Soulé 11', Malen (pen) 17'; Fernandes (retaken pen) 58', Cunha 83' and 86' — Cunha sent off in stoppage time.
- Fans threw tennis balls onto the pitch in the 21st minute in protest at the Glazer ownership; the win ends United's nine-match winless run.
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What happened
It looked like another night to forget: Roma were 2–0 up inside 17 minutes, and in the 21st minute the protest balls rained down from the Stretford End. United were lifeless in the first half, and the boos at the break said what the scoreboard did not need to.
Then the second half turned. Fernandes' penalty was saved, then retaken for encroachment and scored; Cunha, who had won the penalty, tapped in the equaliser with seven minutes left and thundered in the winner three minutes later — then celebrated into the crowd and was sent off in stoppage time for a second yellow. The ten men held on, and a season that had not won since September finally had a win.
Both sides, in their own words
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Side A · Manchester United
- Two goals down at half-time, nine games without a win — and then the second half happened: Fernandes from the spot, Cunha twice in three minutes, and Old Trafford finally had a night to celebrate.
- Cunha won the penalty, scored the equaliser and the winner, and was sent off in stoppage time — the full Cunha evening, and the win United's season badly needed.
Side B · Roma
- Roma had the perfect start — Soulé after 11 minutes, Malen from the spot after 17 — and were 2–0 up at the break, in control of a game at Old Trafford.
- It slipped away in the second half: a retaken penalty, then two Cunha goals in three minutes, and another European lead lost late — Roma had led Real Madrid 3–1 with eight minutes left last month and lost that one too.
Independently verified
Manchester United beat Roma 3–2 at Old Trafford on Tuesday 3 November 2026 in the UEFA Champions League league phase, Matchday 4, after trailing 2–0 at half-time; full time came at 90+6 minutes. The scorers: Matías Soulé put Roma ahead in the 11th minute and Donyell Malen made it 2–0 from the penalty spot in the 17th; Bruno Fernandes pulled one back with a penalty in the 58th minute — his first attempt was saved, but a retake was ordered for encroachment — and Matheus Cunha equalised in the 83rd minute (assisted by Fernandes) and won it in the 86th (assisted by Shea Lacey). Cunha was sent off in stoppage time for a second yellow card. United supporters protested against the club's ownership during the match, throwing tennis balls onto the pitch in the 21st minute — marking 21 years since the Glazer family's leveraged buyout — briefly halting play while the balls were cleared. The win ends Manchester United's nine-match winless run in all competitions, their first victory since September, and gives under-pressure manager Michael Carrick a lifeline after back-to-back Champions League defeats.Not yet verified
Nothing outstanding.Match facts — all verified
- ✓ VerifiedManchester United beat Roma 3–2 at Old Trafford on Tuesday 3 November 2026 in the UEFA Champions League league phase, Matchday 4, after trailing 2–0 at half-time; full time came at 90+6 minutes.UEFA — Champions League league phase fixtures and results (Matchday 4, 3 Nov 2026) · Sportradar — Manchester United vs AS Roma match record (3 Nov 2026) · Reuters — PSG hit Villarreal for six as Bayern win and Man United fight back (3 Nov 2026)
- ✓ VerifiedThe scorers: Matías Soulé put Roma ahead in the 11th minute and Donyell Malen made it 2–0 from the penalty spot in the 17th; Bruno Fernandes pulled one back with a penalty in the 58th minute — his first attempt was saved, but a retake was ordered for encroachment — and Matheus Cunha equalised in the 83rd minute (assisted by Fernandes) and won it in the 86th (assisted by Shea Lacey). Cunha was sent off in stoppage time for a second yellow card.Sportradar — Manchester United vs AS Roma match record (3 Nov 2026) · AP via Sportsnet — Champions League Roundup: Man United make dramatic comeback (3 Nov 2026) · AFP via Ekkow — Man Utd snap winless streak with Roma comeback (3 Nov 2026)
- ✓ VerifiedUnited supporters protested against the club's ownership during the match, throwing tennis balls onto the pitch in the 21st minute — marking 21 years since the Glazer family's leveraged buyout — briefly halting play while the balls were cleared.AP via Sportsnet — Champions League Roundup: Man United make dramatic comeback (3 Nov 2026) · talkSPORT — Manchester United vs Roma clash interrupted as fans launch furious protest (3 Nov 2026)
- ✓ VerifiedThe win ends Manchester United's nine-match winless run in all competitions, their first victory since September, and gives under-pressure manager Michael Carrick a lifeline after back-to-back Champions League defeats.AP via Sportsnet — Champions League Roundup: Man United make dramatic comeback (3 Nov 2026) · AFP via Ekkow — Man Utd snap winless streak with Roma comeback (3 Nov 2026)