Grimsby Town Stun Manchester United in Historic Carabao Cup Shootout

Grimsby Town produced one of the greatest nights in their history as they knocked Manchester United out of the Carabao Cup with a dramatic 12-11 victory in a marathon penalty shootout at Blundell Park. The hard-fought win marked a monumental achievement for David Artell’s Grimsby side, who toppled one of English football’s most decorated clubs.

Cup Upset: ✅#GTFC pic.twitter.com/C4NrEcwHpr
— Grimsby Town F.C. (@officialgtfc) August 27, 2025

The League Two side looked set to pull off a famous upset in normal time after Charles Vernam and Tyrell Warren put them two goals ahead following a dreadful first-half performance from the visitors, with goalkeeper Andre Onana badly at fault for Grimsby’s second. The Mariners, backed by a raucous home crowd, smelled blood as United looked completely disjointed.

Mbeumo Penalty Saved in Marathon Shootout

However, Ruben Amorim’s team mounted a late rally, with Bryan Mbeumo pulling one back before Harry Maguire snatched a stoppage-time equaliser to force penalties. Even then, United had the chance to escape when Matheus Cunha stepped up to convert the decisive fifth spot-kick, but his miss opened the door for Grimsby. After an extraordinary sudden-death shootout, Mbeumo’s second penalty struck the crossbar to seal Grimsby’s 12-11 triumph and spark wild celebrations, including a pitch invasion.

United boss Amorim admitted his players were “completely lost” during the contest, as chants of “sacked in the morning” rang around the stands. The result is arguably one of the lowest points in recent club history, with a first-ever defeat to a fourth-tier side underlining how far they have fallen.

Also Read: Antony Moving Back to Real Betis? Manchester United Progress Talks

For Grimsby, led by manager David Artell, it was a night that will live long in memory. The players and coaching staff stayed on the pitch long after the final whistle to celebrate with fans, capping off a cup upset that will be remembered as one of the biggest shocks English football has seen in years.

In other second-round ties on Wednesday, Brighton cruised past Oxford United with a commanding 6-0 victory. Fulham secured a comfortable 2-0 win over Bristol City. Meanwhile, Everton booked their place in Round Three with a narrow triumph over Mansfield Town thanks to two second-half goals.

Carabao Cup

Grimsby Town

Man United

Manchester United

Ruben Amorim

Abhinav Goel

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I am a soccer writer at The PlayOffs, covering everything from match analysis to transfer buzz and tactical deep dives. Ever since I was a kid, soccer has been more than just a sport to me—it’s been an obsession. Playing and watching the game from a young age fueled my passion, eventually leading me into the world of sports media and betting. Now, I get to analyze the sport I love and bring the latest updates to fans worldwide.