Matheus Cunha learns his punishment after storming onto the pitch & Carrick row
Matheus Cunha was Manchester United’s ultimate hero on Tuesday, but his magical evening ended in controversial fashion.
The Premier League giants ended their nine-match winless run in dramatic fashion after overturning an early two-goal deficit in their Champions League showdown against Roma.
The Italian capital side appeared to be heading towards a comfortable victory, but they ran out of steam after the break. Bruno Fernandes kick-started Man Utd’s revival through a retaken spot-kick, but Cunha emerged as the hero after netting a late brace.
Matheus Cunha receives one-match ban
The Brazilian forward took off his shirt before deliriously throwing himself into the crowd. This wild celebration duly earned him his first yellow card of the evening.
A few minutes later, the 27-year-old picked up a second booking for a late tackle while pressing against the Roman defenders.
However, Cunha was keen to remain as close to the action as possible. Immediately after the final whistle, the Man Utd star re-emerged, joining his teammates in their celebrations.
After spotting his dismissed player on the pitch, Michael Carrick quickly reacted, interrupting his celebrations to ask the former Wolves star to leave the pitch to avoid an extended suspension.
Cunha looked puzzled at first, but he eventually obliged. Nevertheless, some feared the damage had already been done.
But luckily for the attacker, UEFA opted against aggravating his punishment. According to several sources, including BBC journalist Simon Stone, the player will only be banned for one game, which is the designated suspension for a second yellow card.
Therefore, Cunha will miss the away game against Sporting CP on November 25, but will be available for selection when Man Utd host RB Leipzig on December 8.
Cunha’s absence could be a blow for Man Utd
This season, Carrick has already been operating with limited attacking options, as the management opted against signing a new forward in the summer.
This issue has been compounded by Benjamin Sesko’s injury relapse. The Slovenian is expected to remain on the treatment table until January. Moreover, the manager isn’t a big fan of Joshua Zirkzee, who has yet to start a match this season, despite being the only recognised striker available at the moment.
So with Cunha banned for the Lisbon trip, the manager (whether it’s Carrick or someone else) might have a selection dilemma up front.
Nevertheless, Marcus Rashford should be available after the international break, offering a natural solution on the left wing.
