Table of Contents
- Grimsby Town produced the biggest shock of the 2025-26 season so far by knocking Manchester United out of the Carabao Cup
- Kenya’s Harambee Stars prospect Clarke Oduor missed his penalty but that did not cost Grimsby as Mbeumo and Mathues Cunha’s misses sent Manchester United crashing out of the cup competition in the second round
On Wednesday, Grimsby Town produced the biggest shock of the 2025-26 season so far by knocking Manchester United out of the Carabao Cup.
The League Two club secured a 12-11 win on penalty shootouts after the game ended 2-2 in normal time. Grimsby went 2-0 up in the first half, thanks to goals from Charles Vernam and Tyrell Warren, but United found their way back into the clash late on with goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Harry Maguire forcing the game to be decided via shootouts.
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Kenya’s Harambee Stars prospect Clarke Oduor missed his penalty but that did not cost Grimsby as Mbeumo and Mathues Cunha’s misses sent Manchester United crashing out of the Carabao Cup in the second round. Wednesday’s defeat marked the first time since 2014 that United have lost in the second round of the domestic cup. It was also the first time in the history of the Red Devils that they’ve lost to a team playing in League Two of English football.
League Two side Grimsby Town have advanced to the next round of the Carabao Cup after beating Manchester United on penalties. Photo/ Sportstar – The Hindu.
Speaking after the devastating loss at Grimsby Town, Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim said that the best team won.
“The way we started the game, we were not even here. When everything is so important in our club, everything that happened, it’s a problem in our club, we should do so much better. I just have to say sorry to our fans, but I felt my players spoke really loud today what they want… I think football was really fair today. The best team won.” ESPN quotes Ruben Amorim.
How Grimsby Town Beat Manchester United
Manchester United have spent over £200 million in the transfer market this summer. However, the Red Devils are still struggling, especially in front of goal. After a difficult start to the 2025-26 Premier League season, collecting just one point out of a possible six, the Caraboo Cup clash against Grimsby on Wednesday was seen as a chance to motivate the spirit of the players.
Surprisingly, it was the fourth tier club Grimsby that took the lead at Blundell Park in north-east Lincolnshire. Darragh Burns sent a curling cross into the box to find Charles Vernam who scored the opener with little pressure as he was totally unmarked.
Grimsby were soon two goals up before halftime as Andre Onana failed to properly clear a corner, allowing Tyrell Warren to score. Warren was once an academy player at Manchester United.
Grimsby thought they had increased their lead in the second half to 3-0 but Cameron Gardener’s effort was ruled out for offside, despite television replays showing he was in an onside position.
Andre Onana saved a penalty in the shootout but Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo missed their chances from the spot. Photo/ Goal.com.
Amorim made a few tactical changes in the second half, introducing Matthijs de Ligt, Bruno Fernandes and Mbeumo. The changes paid off late in the clash as Mbeumo pulled one back for United in the 75th minute with a well taken low shot. Former captain Harry Maguire then netted the equalizer in the 89th minute from a corner.
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Onana initially thought he was going to be United’s hero when he saved Clarke Oduor’s penalty but Cunha missed the decider, forcing the shootouts to continue. Both goalkeepers scored and the order had reverted to the original steps until Mbuemo missed his chance, saw the Red Devils get knocked out of the competition.
