Manchester United suffered one of the darkest nights in their modern history as they were dumped out of the Carabao Cup by League Two’s Grimsby Town. A 2-2 draw at Blundell Park was followed by an astonishing 12–11 penalty shootout, with Bryan Mbeumo missing the decisive kick to spark wild scenes of celebration.
The Red Devils had arrived as heavy favourites, yet from the opening whistle they looked off the pace. Grimsby sensed the vulnerability and capitalised. Charles Vernam and Tyrell Warren struck in the first half to give the hosts a stunning 2-0 lead.
United were rattled. Their passing was slow, their shape disorganised, and their goalkeeper Andre Onana looked nervous. The home crowd roared louder with every misplaced touch from the visitors.
Mbeumo did give United hope. His first goal for the club came midway through the second half, cutting the deficit and lifting some belief into Amorim’s side. Then, with the clock ticking down, Harry Maguire rose highest to head home an 89th-minute equaliser.
The late goal spared United’s blushes, but only briefly. In the shootout, drama unfolded at every turn. Matheus Cunha had the chance to seal the win at 4-4, but his tame effort was saved.
Sudden death dragged on deep into the night. Both sides showed nerves of steel, but it was Mbeumo who cracked under pressure. His second penalty thundered against the bar, sealing Grimsby’s most famous victory in decades.
The pitch invasion told the story. Grimsby fans poured onto the turf, embracing their heroes as United players trudged towards the away end. It was history for the Mariners, heartbreak for Amorim.
For United, the defeat cut deeper than just an early cup exit. It was the first time in their history they had been knocked out of the competition by a fourth-tier side. For a club still searching for its first win of the season, the loss symbolised a wider crisis.
Amorim offered no excuses afterwards. “Everything,” he said when asked what went wrong. The Portuguese coach apologised repeatedly to supporters, admitting he had no answers to the recurring problems.
His words carried a tone of despair. “You cannot change everything in one summer. You need to win games. You need to not show this kind of performance.”
The manager refused to single out Onana despite the keeper’s poor display, instead pointing at collective failings. “It’s not the goalkeepers. It’s more than that. It’s everyone.”
Tactically, United looked disjointed. Their press lacked cohesion, leaving gaps that Grimsby exploited with simple direct play. In possession, they moved the ball slowly, inviting pressure rather than dictating it.
For Grimsby, this was a night that will live long in memory. The resilience, the belief, and the precision in penalties summed up a side punching far above its weight. For United, it was another harsh reminder of how far they have fallen.
