Manchester United faced a shocking defeat in the English League Cup, falling 12-11 in a penalty shootout to fourth-tier Grimsby Town after a 2-2 draw in a rain-soaked second-round match at Blundell Park on Wednesday.
Grimsby surged to a commanding 2-0 lead by halftime, with Charles Vernam capitalizing on a slick team move to score in the 22nd minute, followed by Tyrell Warren, a former United youth player, tapping in after goalkeeper Andre Onana mishandled a cross.
“We started with no intensity, no pressure, no ideas. We were completely lost,” United’s manager Ruben Amorim later confessed (Reuters).
In the second half, United clawed back with Bryan Mbeumo netting his first goal for the club, igniting a glimmer of hope. Harry Maguire’s 89th-minute header forced the tie into a penalty shootout, but despite Onana’s save in the shootout, Matheus Cunha’s miss and Mbeumo’s shot striking the crossbar handed Grimsby a historic victory after an 18-minute penalty battle.
“I know the best team won. The only team that was on the pitch,” Amorim said cryptically post-match (Reuters).
Amorim, under increasing scrutiny with United earning just 28 points from 29 Premier League games—the club’s worst start since 1974—fielded high-profile signings like £73 million Benjamin Sesko and recalled Onana and Kobbie Mainoo. Yet, the team’s lackluster first half and failure to capitalize on late chances, including a stoppage-time scramble by Sesko, underscored their struggles.
Meanwhile, other Premier League clubs cruised through, with Brighton demolishing Oxford United 6-0, Everton defeating Mansfield Town 2-0, and Fulham narrowly beating Bristol City 2-0. For United, this defeat marks a new nadir in a faltering season, leaving Amorim to grapple with mounting pressure and a team in disarray. “There’s nothing more to say. The team spoke loud today. We lost,” he added (Reuters).
