Match Report: Grimsby Town 2-2 Manchester United (12-11 on penalties) | OneFootball

Manchester United lost 12-11 on penalties to Grimsby Town following a 2-2 draw in regular time in the second round of the EFL Cup.

Opening the season with a loss and then a draw, Man United were in search of nothing less than victory against a much smaller foe as they sought to get their League Cup campaign off to a bright start.

First half

Despite being underdogs, the hosts got the match off to a flying start, racing into the box and sending a cross across the face of the goal. Still, United weren’t about to take things lying down, and they burst into the Grimsby final third seconds later.

Following a foul on Amad Diallo, United earned a free-kick on the edge of the box. Matheus Cunha found Harry Maguire with his cross, only for the defender to collapse on the ball before United’s skipper on the night could capitalise. Already, United appeared to have unsettled the hosts.

About 12 minutes in, Grimsby had their first real attempt on goal, getting in a close-range header that Andre Onana did well to catch.

Grimsby got a threatening shot into the box, which Onana tipped over the crossbar.

22 minutes in, the hosts’ perseverance paid off. Darragh Burns thumped a cross to Charles Vernam on the left of the goal, who took a thunderous shot that breezed past Onana. United’s defending was questionable, with Diego Dalot nowhere to be seen as the man he was supposed to be marking opened the scoring.

Soon after the restart, Matheus Cunha took a shot that forced a save from the goalkeeper.

In the 28th minute, it appeared that Grimsby scored again, only for the referee to blow the whistle as the scorer was guilty of a handball. United clearly needed to regain their focus if they were to find a way back into the match.

On the stroke of 30 minutes, the hosts doubled their lead. As a cross from Vernam came into the box, Onana rose to claim the ball but failed to do so, allowing defender Tyrell Warren to score. Onana’s decision-making seemed questionable at best, adding to the visitors’ woes.

Benjamin Sesko attempted to pull a goal back for United, taking a decent shot from a tight angle to test the keeper. Still, the Grimsby goalkeeper was able to hold onto the ball.

Following a foul by Manuel Ugarte, Grimsby earned a free-kick on the edge of the box. Fortunately for United, the defence held up, clearing the ball out of danger.

Seven minutes from the break, Patrick Dorgu embarked on a decent run down the left before crossing the ball to Sesko, only for the defender to head the ball away. It was a rare moment of attacking intent from United in a bleak performance up until that point.

Two minutes later, Kobbie Mainoo lobbed a promising ball to Amad in the box, whose overhead kick was saved by the keeper. A decent attempt on goal by the youngster.

A minute later, Sesko got a head to a cross from Ugarte, shooting goalward only for a resilient goalkeeper to make yet another save.

While United stepped up their attack in the latter stages of the opening 45 minutes, manager Ruben Amorim clearly needed to make some tactical changes during the break in order to turn his team’s fortunes around.

Second half

Amorim clearly understood that changes were necessary, as he made a triple substitution. Ugarte, Fredericson, and Dorgu all came off for Matthijs de Ligt, Bruno Fernandes, and Bryan Mbeumo.

Four minutes after the restart, Grimsby almost scored a third goal, only for Ayden Heaven to make a courageous dive in order to block the ball from entering the net.

A minute later, Amad took a left-footed shot from the edge of the box that curved around the far post.

United earned a free-kick, which Mbeumo launched toward Heaven. While the defender got his head to it, his shot veered over the crossbar.

On the hour mark, Cunha took a promising shot on the edge of the box that was blocked by a rigid defence.

Two minutes later, Fernandes took a blistering shot from long range to force an impressive diving save from the Grimsby keeper.

With little over 25 minutes to play, Mason Mount came on as a substitute for Ayden Heaven. Clearly, Amorim was adopting a more attacking approach in a desperate attempt to help his team claw their way back into the match.

Mbeumo slotted a surgical through ball to De Ligt, who made his way up the pitch to take a threatening shot that just breezed over the top.

In the 72nd minute, it appeared that the hosts scored their third when Cameron Gardner slotted the ball past Onana. Fortunately for United, the offside flag was up.

With 15 minutes to go, United finally got on the scoreboard. Mbeumo made a spectacular run, curving the ball to the far post out of the keeper’s reach. United just needed one more goal in order to get back into the game.

In the 82nd minute, Joshua Zirkzee came on for Amad Diallo, adding an extra forward to the mix.

With a little over five minutes to play, Mbeumo found De Ligt with a cross, only for his header to be deflected out for a corner. Despite a visious goalmouth scramble, Grimsby somehow avoided conceding, with their brave goalkeeper pouncing on the loose ball once he saw an opening.

Zirkzee was shown a yellow card when he committed an unnecessary foul, pushing his opponent to the ground even though the ball was nowhere in sight.

Cunha attempted a shot from the left, winning United another late corner off a deflection.

While the corner was reset twice due to scuffling in the box, United made it count the third time around.

Maguire rose to the occasion, heading the ball into the back of the net to rescue United at the death.

Five added minutes were awarded, meaning United still had time to find a late winner to complete their comeback.

With seconds left to play, United were camped in the Grimsby box. In a mix up with De Ligt, Sesko belted the ball over the bar from metres out.

Once the keeper performed his goal kick, it was all over, as the referee blew the final whistle.

The match was headed to a penalty shootout.

Penalties

Jaze Kabia took the first penalty, but while Onana got a glove to the ball, it still went in. 1-0 to Grimsby.

Bruno Fernandes redeemed himself after his penalty miss against Fulham, sending the keeper the wrong way to level the score at 1-1.

Darragh Burns sauntered up to the spot, making no mistake to restore the hosts’ lead.

Mbeumo was up next, slamming his shot down the middle to bring the score to 2-2.

Henry Oscar Brown took the third penalty, with Onana making a diving save to tip the ball onto the bar and hand United the advantage. 2-2 the score remained.

Mount placed his spot kick in the right corner, handing United a 3-2 lead.

Reece Staunton sent Onana the wrong way to equalise at 3-3, with Diogo Dalot receiving an opportunity to restore United’s lead.

Dalot did exactly that, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way as he buried his spot kick in the bottom right corner.

Henry Brown was Grimsby’s final penalty taker, and while Onana got a glove to the ball, the teenager converted his spot kick to level the score at 4-4.

It was all up to Matheus Cunha as he stepped up to take the decisive spot kick. Unebelievably, he took a shot that the keeper was able to easily save, keeping the score at 4-4. The shootout was headed to sudden death.

Cameron McJannet put his spot kick away, meaning it was all on Joshua Zirkzee to ensure United’s survival.

He sent the keeper the wrong way, levelling the score at 5-5.

Geza David Turi sent Onana the wrong way to restore the hosts’ 6-5 lead.

Next up was Kobbie Mainoo, who thumped his shot into the top right corner to level the scoreline yet again.

Jayden Sweeney put his penalty away, placing the pressure on United yet again.

It was all down to Harry Maguire to keep United in the match. He sent his shot into the top left corner. 7-7 the score became.

It was a moment of drama as Onana got a hand to Evan Khouri’s shot, only for the ball to go in. 8-7 to Grimsby.

De Ligt thumped his shot into the bottom right corner, levelling the score yet again in what felt like an eternal penalty shootout.

Goalscorer Tyrell Warren took a decisive shot to put Grimsby into a 9-8 lead, while Sesko scored his first goal in United colours to equalise at 9-9.

Finally, it was keeper vs keeper, Christy Pym scoring.

Onana stepped up to take his spot kick, sending Pym the wrong way. The score stood at 10-10, meaning that the first kick-takers would have their second round of attempts.

Kabia converted his spot kick, putting all the pressure back on Fernandes. The United skipper converted his spot kick, making the score 11-11.

Onana got his fingertips to Burns’ second shot, yet it still went in. 12-11 to the hosts.

Then, disaster struck. Mbeumo’s second penalty was not as good as his first. While he sent the goalkeeper the wrong way, he thumped the ball into the crossbar, handing Grimsby a 12-11 win on penalties.

It was a shocking defeat for United, which was even more painful given the seemingly endless penalty shootout. Amorim surely needs to do more to get his team back to winning ways, with only the Premier League and FA Cup to play for this season.

Starting XI: Onana, Dalot, Maguire, Cunha, Dorgu, Amad, Ugarte, Heaven, Sesko, Fredericson, Mainoo Subs: De Ligt, Fernandes, Mbeumo, Mount

Featured image Shaun Botterill via Getty Images

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