Grimsby Town 2–2 Manchester United (12–11 pens): League Two side stun Red Devils in epic shootout | OneFootball

Grimsby Town produced one of the most memorable nights in their history, eliminating Manchester United from the EFL Cup after a dramatic 12–11 penalty shootout win at Blundell Park.

The League Two side had raced into a 2–0 lead inside the opening half-hour thanks to Charles Vernam’s well-taken opener and Tyrell Warren’s close-range finish following another André Onana error. United fought back in the second half, with Bryan Mbeumo halving the deficit with his first goal for the club before Harry Maguire’s late header forced penalties.

What followed was an extraordinary shootout in which both sets of players and even the goalkeepers stepped up. After 24 spot-kicks, Bryan Mbeumo struck the crossbar, handing Grimsby a famous victory and a place in the next round.

As it happened

The Mariners were fearless from the outset, pressing high and unsettling a heavily rotated United side. Vernam broke the deadlock on 22 minutes, meeting Darragh Burns’ cross with a crisp finish at Onana’s near post. Just eight minutes later, Warren reacted quickest when the United goalkeeper failed to claim a corner, doubling Grimsby’s advantage and sending the home support into raptures.

Ruben Amorim made sweeping changes at half-time, introducing Bruno Fernandes, Matthijs de Ligt and Mbeumo, but his side continued to struggle in heavy conditions on a rain-soaked pitch. When Mbeumo finally cut inside and curled beyond Christy Pym in the 75th minute, United sensed a comeback. That belief grew in the dying moments, as Mason Mount’s corner was powered home by Maguire to force penalties.

The shootout itself was remarkable. Both teams scored with confidence, goalkeepers Onana and Pym converting from the spot to keep the sequence going. With the score locked at 11–11, Burns converted for Grimsby before Mbeumo struck the bar, sparking jubilant celebrations inside Blundell Park.

The lineups