Como 4-1 Man Utd: Nico Paz double piles pressure on Michael Carrick

Nico Paz scored twice and set up another as Como beat Manchester United 4-1 at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia on Wednesday, a heavy Champions League defeat that leaves Michael Carrick under growing pressure. Tasos Douvikas and Jacobo Ramón also scored for Cesc Fàbregas's side, who are playing in the competition for the first time, before Joshua Zirkzee pulled one back in stoppage time.

Match facts

• Result: Como 4-1 Manchester United (half-time 1-0)
• Competition: UEFA Champions League, League Phase, Matchday 3
• Venue: Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia, Como
• Scorers: Como - Nico Paz 2', 57', Tasos Douvikas 49', Jacobo Ramón 76'; Manchester United - Joshua Zirkzee 90+1'
• Assists: Como - Lucas Da Cunha (2'), Paz (49'), Kaiki Bruno (76'); Manchester United - Amad Diallo (90+1')
• Red cards: None
• Next: Como v Sassuolo (Serie A), Saturday 24 October, 14:00 UK; Manchester United v Bournemouth (Premier League), Sunday 25 October, 14:00 UK; Manchester United v Roma, Tuesday 3 November, and Lens v Como, Wednesday 4 November (Champions League, both 20:00 UK)

How the match unfolded

United fell behind early for the second European game running, eight days after conceding in the first minute at Atlético Madrid. Diogo Dalot curled wide moments after the 17:45 UK kick-off, and Paz then found space on the edge of the area to bend a left-footed shot into the corner in the second minute.

Como dominated possession in a rain-soaked first half as Matthijs de Ligt, making his first appearance in 325 days after back surgery, struggled alongside Harry Maguire. Maguire headed wide from a Bryan Mbeumo cross, Como's penalty appeals for a Maguire challenge on Martin Baturina were turned down, and Senne Lammens saved from Douvikas and Baturina. Andrey Santos was booked in the 25th minute for a late lunge on Paz.

Carrick replaced Santos and Matheus Cunha with Carlos Baleba and Amad Diallo at half-time, but Como scored four minutes after the restart. Paz threaded a pass through to Douvikas, who beat Lammens with a powerful right-footed finish. Baleba was booked in the 51st minute, and six minutes later he lost the ball to Paz, who drove into the box and steered a left-footed shot inside the far post for 3-0.

Captain Bruno Fernandes made way for Zirkzee in the 66th minute. In the 76th, centre-back Ramón rose to head home substitute Kaiki Bruno's cross from the left. In the first minute of stoppage time, Zirkzee controlled Amad's cross and finished through Jean Butez's legs, and the goal stood after a VAR check for offside.

Carrick under pressure

United had been six games without a win in all competitions before kick-off, and they now have three points from three league-phase games after beating Sabah 4-0 and losing 2-0 in Madrid. Como's starting XI had a combined 62 Champions League appearances before the game, compared with 242 for United's.

Carrick went to the away end at full time to apologise to the travelling fans. "It was more than disappointing. I think everybody has got to take responsibility for that," he told TNT Sports, adding that "to see a performance like that is unacceptable".

Fernandes told TNT Sports: "It's a decision from the staff to not press man to man and sometimes leave space behind and try to get the ball, wait for them, but sometimes when you give space to these teams they get confidence." Carrick replied at his post-match media conference: "We actually half-pressed man-to-man the second half and then conceded a goal from that." The result comes a week after Lisandro Martínez criticised the club's hierarchy, and three days after a 1-1 draw at Leeds.

What's next

Como move to six points, after a 4-1 home win over RB Leipzig and a 3-2 defeat at Feyenoord, and host Sassuolo on Saturday. United welcome Bournemouth to Old Trafford on Sunday before Roma visit in the Champions League.

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