Giant-Killers Grimsby Dump Man Utd Out in Historic Carabao Cup Shock

League Two Grimsby Town stun Manchester United 12-11 in a marathon penalty shootout after a 2-2 draw. Pressure mounts on United manager Ruben Amorim, who admits his team was "completely lost." New £74m signing Benjamin Sesko raises eyebrows as the 10th penalty taker, while Bryan Mbeumo misses the decisive spot-kick. Hero goalkeeper Christy Pym, a lifelong Man Utd fan, admits he's "half-fuming" after the historic win.

Grimsby Stun United in Shootout Thriller

Manchester United have been dumped out of the Carabao Cup in humiliating fashion, suffering a historic defeat to League Two side Grimsby Town in a breathtaking penalty shootout at a jubilant Blundell Park.

On a night of high drama and raw emotion, the Mariners — 56 places below their Premier League opponents in the football pyramid — held their nerve to win a marathon shootout 12-11, sparking scenes of pandemonium. The defeat marks a new low for Manchester United and heaps intense pressure on manager Ruben Amorim, whose side has now endured one of the most embarrassing results in its modern history.

United, with a squad assembled for over £400 million, looked second-best for large parts of the tie. Grimsby surged into a deserved 2-0 first-half lead through Charles Vernam and former United academy product Tyrell Warren, leaving the visitors stunned and Amorim’s game plan in tatters.

Though United clawed their way back — Bryan Mbeumo netting his first for the club and captain Harry Maguire heading home an 89th-minute equaliser — the comeback merely delayed the humiliation.

In the shootout, Matheus Cunha spurned the chance to seal the win for United, seeing his penalty saved by Grimsby goalkeeper Christy Pym. Then, in the decisive moment, Mbeumo’s second spot-kick of the night smashed against the crossbar, sealing Grimsby’s famous victory.

Amorim Admits United Were "Completely Lost"

A dejected Ruben Amorim admitted his team was “completely lost” and delivered a damning assessment of the performance.

“I think something has to change,” a furious Amorim told the BBC. “The team and the players spoke really loud today... the best team won, the only team that was on the pitch.”

The Portuguese coach, who has now lost more games than he has won since taking charge, faced criticism for remaining in his dugout during the tense shootout. His cryptic post-match comments have only fueled speculation about his future, with some insiders suggesting he could even walk away if results don’t improve.

Puzzling Decisions and a Conflicted Hero

Eyebrows were raised over Amorim’s decision to have £74m summer signing Benjamin Sesko take United’s 10th penalty. While the striker converted, BBC’s Phil McNulty called the choice “very puzzling,” with later reports revealing Sesko had been struggling with cramp on the heavy pitch.

The night, however, belonged to Christy Pym. The Grimsby goalkeeper saved Cunha’s penalty and kept his composure throughout the marathon shootout. In a remarkable twist, Pym — a lifelong United fan — admitted he was “half-fuming” despite the heroics.

“It’s not sunk in yet. I’m a Man Utd fan, so I’m half-fuming a little bit,” he joked.

“I think Amorim should stay. It’s been rough as a United fan, but I don’t see the point in changing managers again. It’s not the manager, it’s the club as a whole.”

What Next for United?

For Grimsby, the reward is a glamorous third-round clash against Sheffield Wednesday and a place in club folklore. Manager David Artell hailed the victory as “fantastic for the whole town,” while the club’s social media team cheekily declared that United had been “slapped by the fish.”

For Manchester United, however, the defeat is another brutal chapter in their turbulent post-Ferguson era — a night of introspection, humiliation, and perhaps a turning point for Amorim’s tenure.