Manchester United forward Matheus Cunha could not hide his emotions after finally opening his account for the club in their 4-2 Premier League victory over Brighton & Hove Albion at Old Trafford. The Brazilian striker, who joined United from Wolves during the summer, had been eager to get off the mark — and his first goal arrived in front of a jubilant home crowd.
United’s £200 million summer overhaul saw them bring in three new attacking options — Cunha, Benjamin Šeško, and Bryan Mbeumo — as manager Rúben Amorim looked to reshape his frontline. While his new teammates had already found the net earlier in the campaign, Cunha had been growing increasingly desperate to join them on the scoresheet.
His moment came midway through the first half when he finished off a flowing team move to give United the lead. The goal not only helped the Red Devils secure their third consecutive victory, following impressive wins over Liverpool and Sunderland, but also lifted a huge weight off the Brazilian’s shoulders.
After the match, Matheus Cunha admitted the goal meant more to him than words could express. “It is hard to say something now,” he told club media. “I have worked so hard for this. This club deserves performances like this every week — it needs to be normal for us. My first goal at Old Trafford, it’s something I dreamed of many times, but of course the win is what really matters.”
The 26-year-old revealed that his teammates, particularly Mbeumo and Šeško, had been teasing him about scoring his first goal. “I joked with Bryan and Benjamin before the game,” Matheus Cunha smiled. “I told them I needed to feel this. I was anxious, I wanted to help. When I scored, they said, ‘Now you can enjoy it.’ The support from everyone has been amazing — I feel so good to be part of this.”
United manager Rúben Amorim was also full of praise for Cunha’s performance, not just for his goal but for his overall contribution. “You could feel it — even against Liverpool — he’s growing in confidence when the game gets tougher,” Amorim said. “He loves responsibility. Today he defended really well, stayed disciplined, and when he has the ball, I never worry. He’s been frustrated not scoring, but we all know what he brings to this team.”
Matheus Cunha’s goal could prove a turning point, both personally and for United, as Amorim’s rejuvenated side look to climb further up the Premier League table.
