Carabao Cup: Miserable Man United beaten by fourth-tier club Grimsby

In a stunning upset, Manchester United has been eliminated from the Carabao Cup after an intense and nerve-wracking penalty shootout that ended 12-11 in favor of Grimsby Town during their second-round clash at Blundell Park on Wednesday night.

The Red Devils, despite fielding a formidable lineup and giving Benjamin Sesko his first start upfront, struggled to convert their opportunities and continued their disappointing run of form under manager Ruben Amorim, who has yet to secure a victory this season.

This loss marks a historic moment, as it is the first time Man United has succumbed to a team from EFL Two, the fourth tier of English football, after 12 previous encounters.

Grimsby Town, who have impressively remained unbeaten in their six matches thus far this season, drew first blood in the 22nd minute when Harry Vernam unleashed a powerful shot that found the back of the net, leaving goalkeeper Andre Onana, who was making his season debut, with no chance.

The situation worsened for United just eight minutes later when Onana miscalculated a cross, allowing Tyrel Warren to pounce on the unguarded goal, stretching Grimsby’s lead to 2-0 by halftime.

In a desperate bid to turn the tide, Ruben Amorim made a bold triple substitution at the start of the second half, bringing on Matias de Ligt, Bryan Mbeumo, and the returning Bruno Fernandes. The changes injected new life into the team, culminating in a breakthrough at the 75-minute mark.

Mbeumo expertly curled a shot into the bottom corner, reigniting United’s hopes. Then, in a dramatic finish, Harry Maguire rose above the defense to head home the equalizer in the 89th minute, pushing the match into a penalty shootout.

As the tension mounted, both teams displayed resilience in the shootout.

However, the excitement turned to heartbreak for United when Mathias Cunha and Mbeumo both missed their penalty attempts. Grimsby seized the opportunity and ultimately triumphed with a nail-biting 12-11 victory in penalties.

This defeat mirrors a painful episode from 11 years ago when Manchester United faced elimination at the same stage against MK Dons.

Grimsby Town has now added the Red Devils to their list of high-profile scalps, joining Tottenham and Liverpool as they continue to surprise Premier League clubs in cup competitions.