Roma comeback at Old Trafford. Manchester United wins 3-2

RegretsOld Trafford for the Roma on the fourth day of the League Phase of Champions League. The team of Gasperini loses 3-2 in comeback to Manchester United at the end of a two-sided match for both teams.

First half entirely in yellow and red colours, with Soulé e Grind which gave Roma the double advantage between the 11th and 19th minutes. Carrick’s eleven looks like a doll and Roma are unable to get the hat trick in the first half. In the second half the roles were reversed: United started strong and the guests went into decline. Bruno Fernandes closes the gap in the 58th minute and Old Trafford becomes a factor. In bedlam it is Cunha to give the Red Devils the three points, scoring a brace between the 83rd and 86th minutes. In the final, the Brazilian was sent off for a second yellow card, but Roma were unable to find the energy to avoid another searing comeback, after the one at the Olimpico against Real Madrid.

With four points in four games the hopes of qualification in Roma’s top eight they are reduced to the bare bones. The Giallorossi are 19th, three points behind Bayern in eighth place, while United rises to 17th place with 6 points.

Soulé and Malen score the double advantage for Roma

Balanced start to the first half, but immediately high pace. Roma are solid and take advantage of Manchester United’s defensive amnesia. In the 11th minute Mainoo lost the ball in midfield and the Giallorossi triggered Soulé on the right, who scored the opener. Six minutes later the second goal arrives: Heaven intercepts a Roma shot with his arm, Gil Manzano points to the spot and Malen converts the rigor of 0-2. The tension rises in the 20th minute, when a squabble costs Soulé and Bruno Fernandes yellow cards. Before the break the Argentine also had the opportunity for the third goal, but shot wide. The teams return to the changing rooms amidst boos from the English fans.

The repeated penalty and the siege of United

At the start of the second half the pace slows down and Roma leaves the ball in the hands of Carrick’s team. United pressed and in the 55th minute they earned the chance to close the gap. Bruno Fernandes finds Cunha in the area, who is tripped by Mancini and gets the ball to halve the deficit from eleven metres. Bruno Fernandes takes the spot, but is opposed by Vasquez. Cristante saves from the rebound, but the Our he notices an early entry into the area by the Roma midfielder and points to the spot again. Bruno Fernandes makes no mistake at the second opportunity and scores the 2-1 in the 58th minute. Roma disunited and Mbeumo almost equalized by hitting a double post on the counterattack in the 60th minute. It becomes a real siege at Old Trafford, with Maguire coming close to making it 2-2 twice from a corner, but first finding Wesley’s back and then Balerdi’s chest.

Cunha’s double

The teams get longer, the pace increases and contacts increase, with Old Trafford becoming bedlam. In the 83rd minute the score was 2-2: a seemingly harmless cross by Bruno Fernandes, a sensational smooth shot into the area by Balerdi, behind which Cunha emerged and beat Vasquez to equalize the score. Roma are no longer able to get out and within three minutes United get the ball rolling: Lacey slots in for Cunha, Ndicka is late and the Brazilian beats Vasquez at his post to make it 3-2 in the 86th minute. In the final, the Giallorossi didn’t have the strength to take it back despite Cunha’s expulsion and suffered their second defeat of the League Phase.