Manchester United‘s match-winner Matheus Cunha had to be escorted down the tunnel following the stunning win over Roma after head coach Michael Carrick tried to keep the Brazil star out of further trouble.
Cunha was sent off in injury-time after crowning United’s 3-2 comeback win with two late goals. Having been booked for taking off his shirt after scoring the winner, he was shown a second yellow card for a foul on Leonardo Balerdi.
Cunha watched the end of the game sat on an advertising board rather than going to the dressing-room, and tried to come on the pitch at the end to celebrate with his team-mates. When United’s backroom staff tried to stop the unhappy player, Carrick stepped in to order him down the tunnel.
‘I was disappointed with how it finished, but again just shows how much he cares and is willing to do,’ said Carrick of Cunha, who also won the penalty that allowed Bruno Fernandes to fire United back into the game early in the second half.
‘When he’s in that frame of mind, he’s in that mood and he plays like that, that’s what we want from him. Matheus can do those things, you know. He’s got those moments.
‘We put him inside and swapped him with Bryan at half-time to try and get him in the middle of the pitch, try and give us a little bit of different shape, and put him in the centre of the pitch, and he found himself in good positions.’
Michael Carrick had to order Matheus Cunha down the tunnel as he tried to celebrate Manchester United’s win over Roma
It remains to be seen if Cunha will face any further action from UEFA besides being banned for the next Champions League tie against Sporting Lisbon in November.
Cunha’s exit at Old Trafford was reminiscent of an incident in March 2025 when he was playing for Wolves. He was charged by the FA for acting in an improper manner after he was sent off in the FA Cup defeat by Bournemouth after clashing with Milos Kerkez in the final minute of extra-time and then had to be escorted down the tunnel.
Cunha was later handed an additional one-match ban and fined £50,000 for his behaviour.
