Grimsby 2-2 Manchester United (a.p. 12-11): Premier League side fall to humiliating defeat against fourth-tier club
Manchester United suffered one of the most humiliating defeats in their history on Wednesday night, crashing out of the League Cup to League Two side Grimsby Town after a penalty shootout at Blundell Park.
The tie ended 2-2 in normal time before Grimsby prevailed 12-11 in an extraordinary shootout, with new signing Bryan Mbeumo hitting the crossbar on United’s final kick.
The result marked the first time United have been eliminated from a domestic cup competition by a team from England’s fourth tier.
Ruben Amorim’s side went two goals down in a shocking first half after Charles Vernam and Tyrell Warren fired within eight minutes of each other, with United’s returning goalkeeper Andre Onana culpable for both goals.
Grimsby had opportunities to extend the lead, including having Cameron Gardner’s second-half goal controversially ruled out for offside, before late goals from Mbeumo and Harry Maguire forced extra time and eventually penalties.
United squandered a chance to win the contest in the shootout, when Onana came close to rectifying his errors when he saved Clarke Oduor’s penalty, only for Matheus Cunha to miss the chance to seal the tie.
In the end, Mbeumo missed his second penalty of the shootout to condemn United to the ignominious defeat.
