Roma punished United before the interval
The visitors played through United’s first line of pressure and used the space left when the home side committed players forward. Two goals gave Roma control of the score and forced United to change the tempo after the break.
United had possession in useful areas but did not move the ball quickly enough around the penalty box. Roma could set their defensive shape, win the first contact and attack the space behind United’s midfield.
Fernandes gave the comeback a starting point
The captain converted a penalty in the 58th minute. The goal did not solve every problem, but it made the next attack more urgent and gave the crowd a reason to increase the pressure on Roma.
United then played with greater width and sent more runners beyond the striker. Roma were pushed closer to their own goal and found it harder to keep the ball after a clearance.
Cunha changed the match in three minutes
Cunha levelled the score in the 83rd minute and struck again in the 86th. His movement was more important than the number of touches: he arrived in the area while Roma’s defenders were watching the ball rather than the runner.
The result showed United’s attacking depth, but the first half remains a warning. A European comeback can lift confidence, yet the same slow start against a more clinical opponent may leave too much work for the final half-hour.