Carabao Cup Catastrophe: Fourth-Tier Grimsby Stun Manchester United in Penalty Thriller

Manchester United suffered a humiliating exit from the Carabao Cup as fourth-tier underdogs Grimsby Town pulled off one of the greatest upsets in the competition's history, edging out the Premier League giants 12-11 on penalties after a dramatic 2-2 draw.

The hosts showed no fear from the opening whistle and stunned their illustrious visitors with an early breakthrough. In the 22nd minute, Charles Vernam latched onto a lofted pass inside the box and calmly slotted the ball past André Onana at the near post — 1-0 to Grimsby.

Moments later, the Mariners thought they had doubled their lead, but a second goal was ruled out. However, their belief only grew stronger. On the half-hour mark, a poor decision from Onana to rush off his line left the goal exposed, allowing Tyler Warren to tap into an empty net and make it 2-0.

The Red Devils looked rattled and failed to create any real threat in the first half, prompting manager Rúben Amorim to make a triple substitution at the break — introducing Matthijs de Ligt, Bruno Fernandes, and Bryan Mbeumo in a desperate attempt to turn the tide.

The second half began under a torrential downpour, adding chaos to an already unpredictable night. In the 75th minute, Mbeumo sparked hope, driving forward and rifling a low shot into the bottom corner — 2-1. United continued to press, and in the 89th minute, Harry Maguire met a Mason Mount corner at the far post to level the score at 2-2.

With no extra time, the tie went straight to penalties — and what followed was a marathon shootout. Both teams held their nerve through the first round of spot-kicks, but in the second cycle, Mbeumo hit the crossbar, handing Grimsby Town a moment of eternal glory and sending Manchester United crashing out in shocking fashion.

Final score: Grimsby 2-2 Manchester United (Grimsby win 12-11 on penalties).