Grimsby Town Knock Out Manchester United in Carabao Cup – Onana Makes Mistakes, Mbeumo Misses Penalty
Fundacion Rapala – In one of the most surprising results of the season, Grimsby Town, a small team from England’s fourth division, beat Manchester United in the Carabao Cup. The game ended 2–2 in regular time, and after an intense penalty shootout, Grimsby won 12–11. Because of this loss, United are now out of the competition.
First Half: Grimsby Take Advantage of United’s Mistakes
At the start of the match, both teams played carefully. However, it didn’t take long for things to go wrong for Manchester United. In the 22nd minute, Charles Vernam scored for Grimsby with a shot that Onana, United’s goalkeeper, couldn’t stop.
Just eight minutes later, Grimsby scored again. After a corner kick, Tyrell Warren found the ball in the box and put it into the net. Onana didn’t react fast enough, and suddenly, Grimsby were winning 2–0.
This shocked many fans. While United tried to attack more, they couldn’t score before the first half ended.
Second Half: United Push Back and Level the Score
When the second half started, Manchester United made three changes to try and change the game. They brought on Bruno Fernandes, Bryan Mbeumo, and Matthijs De Ligt.
These changes helped. United played faster and created more chances. In the 75th minute, Mbeumo scored a beautiful goal from outside the box to make the score 2–1.
Then, near the end of the game, Harry Maguire scored a header from a corner in the 88th minute. The game was now 2–2, and both teams were full of energy. However, no more goals were scored, and the match moved to a penalty shootout.
Penalty Shootout: Grimsby Hold Their Nerve
The shootout was long and full of drama. Both teams took turns scoring. But in the end, two United players missed: Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, who hit the ball over the bar.
Grimsby stayed calm, scored their final kick, and won the shootout 12–11. Their fans celebrated wildly, while United players looked shocked and disappointed.
A Night to Forget for United, A Night to Remember for Grimsby
This loss was not just unexpected—it was embarrassing for Manchester United. Losing to a team from a much lower league is something that rarely happens. It will raise more questions about the team’s coach, Ruben Amorim, and how the players are performing.
On the other hand, for Grimsby, this is a dream come true. Beating a club as big as United is something they and their fans will never forget.
Match Summary – Key Stats
- Score: Grimsby Town 2–2 Manchester United (Grimsby won 12–11 on penalties)
- Goals for Grimsby: Vernam (22’), Warren (30’)
- Goals for United: Mbeumo (75’), Maguire (88’)
- Possession: Grimsby 29% – United 71%
- Total Shots: Grimsby 10 – United 28
- Shots on Target: Grimsby 4 – United 9
- Fouls: Grimsby 10 – United 8
- Offsides: Grimsby 5 – United 1
What Happens Next?
Now, Manchester United must focus on other competitions. The Carabao Cup may be over for them, but the season is still long. They will need to play better and avoid mistakes if they want to win anything.
As for Grimsby Town, their journey continues. No one expected them to go this far, but now, everyone will be watching them more closely.
This game reminds us that in football, anything can happen. Even a small team can beat a giant, and that’s what makes the sport so exciting.