Manchester United Produce a Dramatic Champions League Comeback

Roma take control at Old Trafford

The opening half could hardly have gone much worse for Manchester United.

Roma took the lead after just 11 minutes.

Rodrigo Mora found Matías Soulé with a diagonal pass, and the Argentine forward finished into the bottom corner to give the visitors a 1-0 advantage.

Six minutes later, Roma doubled their lead.

Soulé's shot struck the hand of Ayden Heaven inside the penalty area, giving Donyell Malen the opportunity to score from the spot.

Malen converted the penalty and Roma were 2-0 ahead after only 17 minutes.

United struggled to create clear chances during the remainder of the first half. Roma goalkeeper Devis Vasquez made several saves as the home side searched for a way back into the game.

United registered only one shot on target before halftime.

Michael Carrick therefore had a significant task at the break.

Two goals down at home, United needed a completely different second-half performance.

They got one.

Manchester United turn the game around

The turning point arrived shortly after halftime.

Matheus Cunha was brought down inside the Roma penalty area, giving United a chance to reduce the deficit.

Bruno Fernandes stepped up, but his first penalty was saved by Vasquez.

United were given another opportunity after a Roma player encroached into the area.

Fernandes made no mistake the second time.

His retaken penalty flew into the top corner in the 58th minute, making it 2-1 and giving the home crowd something to believe in.

The goal changed the atmosphere inside Old Trafford.

United immediately began pushing for an equalizer.

Bryan Mbeumo came close when his effort beat Vasquez but struck both posts before bouncing away.

Roma were suddenly under pressure.

The visitors had spent much of the first half controlling the match, but United were now creating chances and forcing Roma deeper toward their own penalty area.

The equalizer finally arrived with seven minutes of normal time remaining.

Fernandes delivered a cross into the penalty area, Roma defender Leonardo Balerdi failed to make contact and Cunha reacted quickest.

The Brazilian controlled the opportunity and finished beyond Vasquez.

2-2.

Old Trafford erupted.

And United were not finished.

Cunha becomes the hero of the night

Just three minutes after equalizing, Cunha completed the comeback.

Substitute Shea Lacey found him with a pass, and Cunha drove forward before firing the ball past Vasquez at his near post.

United had gone from 2-0 down to 3-2 ahead in less than half an hour.

The celebration was just as dramatic as the goal.

Cunha removed his shirt and jumped into the crowd, earning a yellow card in the process.

He would receive another booking later in the match for a foul on Leonardo Balerdi, meaning he was sent off in stoppage time.

That left United to defend their lead without the player who had completely transformed the game.

Roma had one final opportunity when Santiago Castro headed wide, but United held on.

The final whistle confirmed a 3-2 victory.

For a team that had looked short of ideas during the first half, the turnaround was extraordinary.

Another memorable European night at Old Trafford

Manchester United have a long history of Champions League comebacks.

The 1999 semifinal against Juventus remains one of the most famous, when United recovered from a 2-0 deficit in Turin to win 3-2 and reach the final.

They also came from two goals behind against Braga in 2012, eventually winning 3-2 at Old Trafford.

The Roma comeback now joins that list.

It was also particularly significant because of the way the result was achieved.

United had to recover from a poor first half, survive a missed penalty, score three times after halftime and then defend the final minutes with 10 men.

Bruno Fernandes played a central role in the turnaround, while Cunha provided the decisive contribution with two goals.

The victory also gave Michael Carrick and his players a European result they can point back to when discussing the character of this team.

For the supporters inside Old Trafford, the sequence will be difficult to forget.

Two goals down.

A missed penalty.

A retaken penalty.

A late equalizer.

A winner three minutes later.

Then a red card and a nervous finish.

That is exactly the sort of night that has helped make European soccer at Old Trafford so memorable.

Manchester United now have another Champions League story to add to the club's long history of dramatic comebacks.