Manchester United produced a remarkable second-half comeback to beat Roma 3-2 at Old Trafford on Tuesday, overturning a two-goal deficit in a Champions League tie that had threatened to deepen the crisis around manager Michael Carrick.
The hosts were booed off at half-time after a dismal opening 45 minutes in which they failed to register a shot inside the Roma penalty area. Matias Soule opened the scoring after collecting a pass from Rodrigo Mora and driving past goalkeeper Senne Lammens, exploiting space left vacant as left back Diogo Dalot pushed high up the field in line with Carrick's tactical plan.
Five minutes later, Roma doubled their lead from the penalty spot. After Soule regained possession following a lackadaisical Harry Maguire clearance, his shot struck the arm of Ayden Heaven, and Donyell Malen converted the resulting penalty to make it 2-0.
The remainder of the first half offered little encouragement, with Amad Diallo the only United player able to carry the ball into dangerous areas, while captain Bruno Fernandes was seen arguing with teammate Carlos Baleba over a pass.
The turnaround came after the break, driven by the intensity of Matheus Cunha. The Brazilian forced the penalty through which Fernandes halved the deficit, the United captain converting at the second attempt following a questionable encroachment call. When Bryan Mbeumo then clipped both posts, Old Trafford was rocking.
Cunha scored the equalizer after Roma defender Leonardo Balerdi cleared fresh air, and he completed the comeback with the winner, taking the ball to a narrow angle after a helping hand from substitute Shea Lacey and rocketing his finish home. A late red card for overexuberance did little to diminish an exceptional individual display.
The victory offered vindication of sorts for Carrick, whose position had come under scrutiny after a defeat to Bournemouth nine days earlier and a loss at Como last month. The club's hierarchy stood by him after the Bournemouth result, and the second-half response suggested his players remain committed to his cause.
Carrick engineered the recovery without obvious tactical adjustments, instead demanding that his side move the ball with greater intensity, and his players delivered in front of a crowd eager to believe in the project.
Still, questions will linger over why United required a two-goal hole to find that level of commitment. The contrast between a first half in which defeat seemed accepted and a ferocious second-half display underlines the inconsistency that has plagued the club in recent weeks, even as this European night offered hope that better days may lie ahead.
