26 penalties! League Cup shocker as fourth-tier Grimsby Town stun Man United in first meeting since 1948 | Football News
Manchester United’s season plunged to new depths on Wednesday as Ruben Amorim’s side crashed out of the League Cup to fourth-tier Grimsby Town after one of the most humiliating nights in the club’s modern history. The League Two underdogs prevailed 12-11 on penalties after a 2-2 draw at Blundell Park, with the shootout stretching to a marathon 26 spot-kicks before Bryan Mbeumo struck the crossbar to send the 9,000 home fans into raptures.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!For United, it was another nadir in a turbulent spell under Amorim, who admitted afterwards that his players were “completely lost.” The Portuguese coach, already under mounting pressure after a winless Premier League start, was scathing in his assessment: “I think the best team won, the only team that was on the pitch. The way we start the game without any intensity… we were completely lost and that’s why I think they spoke really loud.”United’s problems were evident early on as Grimsby raced into a deserved 2-0 lead before half-time. Charles Vernam fired past Andre Onana at his near post in the 22nd minute, and Tyrell Warren capitalised on more poor goalkeeping to tap in from a corner.Amorim threw on Bruno Fernandes, Mbeumo, and Matthijs de Ligt after the break, sparking a late rally. Mbeumo pulled one back with a curling strike, and Harry Maguire’s 89th-minute header forced extra time. Benjamin Sesko then missed a golden chance to win it in stoppage time, leaving penalties to decide the outcome.In a chaotic shootout, Matheus Cunha spurned the chance to clinch it for United at 4-4 before both teams converted a string of spot-kicks. Even the goalkeepers found the net, but in the 26th attempt, Mbeumo rattled the bar to confirm Grimsby’s fairytale upset.The result eliminates one of United’s few realistic chances of silverware this season, following their 15th-place Premier League finish last year. For Grimsby, it was a night to savour — their first meeting with United since 1948 ending in arguably the greatest result in the club’s history.
