Matheus Cunha’s brace saved Man Utd against Roma, but his red card and walkout could cost him

The most useful reading of Man Utd’s 3-2 Champions League win over Roma is not that Michael Carrick has solved his team’s problems, but that Matheus Cunha can be United’s most dangerous attacking weapon and its biggest disciplinary risk in the same 90 minutes. Sky Sports’ match report had United trailing Roma by two goals at half-time, with Bruno Fernandes scoring a penalty and Cunha adding a late brace to complete the comeback. The win ended a nine-game winless run and, according to Tribal Football, eased some of the growing pressure on Carrick.

Two late finishes made the comeback possible

After a dreadful opening period, United needed more than renewed effort at Old Trafford. Yahoo Sports describes Cunha taking the ball in his stride, producing a delightful touch on the run, glancing up and then firing a rocket that clipped the inside of the near post. RTÉ says the late brace breathed new life into United’s season.

The player ratings reinforce the impact. Yardbarker gave Cunha 8.5, with Dalot the next-best rated Red Devil on 7.5. The defensive case for Cunha is therefore concrete: without his two goals, a comeback from 2-0 down would not have been completed, and the win that relieved pressure on Carrick would not have happened.

The defence for Cunha is the scoreline; the complication is the red card

The same match reports that celebrate those finishes also record a sending-off. At full-time, Cunha exchanged words with Carrick after the Brazilian reappeared following his red card. The Daily Express says he stormed off the pitch, while Yahoo Sports describes a tense exchange with Carrick. GiveMeSport adds that Carrick later revealed what he told the unhappy Cunha.

Those details matter because the performance cannot be separated from the reaction. A player can score two goals and still create a different problem for his manager, particularly when the arguing continues after the final whistle. The ratings justify his contribution, but an 8.5 does not remove the red card, the walkout or the full-time confrontation from the same evening.

This is the second red card to turn into extra punishment

Cunha’s Champions League night did not happen on a blank disciplinary slate. News18 reported that, following his red card in Wolves’ FA Cup fifth-round defeat to Bournemouth, he received an additional one-match ban and a 50,000 fine. That adds a previous high-profile sending-off to the one in Manchester’s win over Roma.

The consequences may now extend further. The Manchester Evening News says Cunha faces an extra Champions League ban for breaking rules straight after the Roma win, and the Daily Express reports that he may be reported for breaching a UEFA regulation. The two episodes are in separate competitions, but together they form a clear disciplinary trail rather than two unrelated incidents.

Carrick got breathing space, but Cunha supplied the tension

Yahoo Sports calls Cunha the ultimate showman in a Manchester United circus, which captures both the brilliance and the volatility. RTÉ says his late brace helped breathe new life into United’s season, while Tribal Football says the victory eased pressure on Carrick’s job. Those outcomes are real, but the manager’s night also included managing an unhappy scorer after the match.

The practical question now is how Carrick deploys a forward who delivered two essential late goals and an 8.5 rating while also collecting another red card and a potential UEFA breach. UEFA’s decision on the reported infringement and Carrick’s handling of Cunha in the next match are the immediate tests.