Two Andre Onana fumbles sent Manchester United all the way to Hell as they lived out a living nightmare of a Carabao Cup tie at Grimsby Town. Bryan Mbeumo and Harry Maguire somehow got them out of trouble, salvaging a 2-2 draw and taking them to the safety of penalties. But just when they thought they were out, they pulled themselves back into the quagmire as Matheus Cunha and then Bryan Mbeumo erred in a marathon shootout which ended 12-11 to the League Two side, leaving United out of the Carabao Cup at the first hurdle for the first time since 2014.
Ruben Amorim made eight changes to his line-up from Fulham but his starting XI still cost more than £400m in transfer fees alone. And yet Grimsby didn’t just match them, they out-played them. The League Two side’s unrelenting energy suffocated United, who were struggling to cope even before they capitulated for the first goal. Amad and Manuel Ugarte were cleaned out by Kieran Green in midfield and it led to a sweeping cross towards Charles Vernam, whose low thumping shot flummoxed Onana.
Grimsby had the ball in the net again not long after although it was ruled out by the referee for a double handball by Cameron Gardner. There’s no VAR before the final of the Carabao Cup and Grimsby took advantage with a very physical approach from corners but that was no excuse for Onana completely misjudging the cross from a corner which led to Tyrell Warren – a former United academy hopeful – bundling in a second.
United offered very little down the other end, even with Benjamin Sesko making his full debut and Amad Diallo returning to the attack. It took substitute Bryan Mbeumo to give them hope with a low strike into the bottom corner and then Maguire completed the comeback in the 89th minute with a taste of Grimsby’s own medicine – aerial bombardment from a corner.
So to penalties it went and Matheus Cunha looked set to give United a happy ending but he missed the fifth, taking it to sudden death. Every other United player – including Onana – scored so it went to a second round of kicks where Mbeumo caved in to the pressure and sent his shot off the bar. Grimsby’s elated supporters flooded onto the pitch while United exited the first of only two cup competitions they will play this season, which has already got off to an ominous start.
BALLGM rates Man United’s players from Blundell Park…
Two Andre Onana fumbles sent Manchester United all the way to Hell as they lived out a living nightmare of a Carabao Cup tie at Grimsby Town. Bryan Mbeumo and Harry Maguire somehow got them out of trouble, salvaging a 2-2 draw and taking them to the safety of penalties. But just when they thought they were out, they pulled themselves back into the quagmire as Matheus Cunha and then Bryan Mbeumo erred in a marathon shootout which ended 12-11 to the League Two side, leaving United out of the Carabao Cup at the first hurdle for the first time since 2014.
Ruben Amorim made eight changes to his line-up from Fulham but his starting XI still cost more than £400m in transfer fees alone. And yet Grimsby didn’t just match them, they out-played them. The League Two side’s unrelenting energy suffocated United, who were struggling to cope even before they capitulated for the first goal. Amad and Manuel Ugarte were cleaned out by Kieran Green in midfield and it led to a sweeping cross towards Charles Vernam, whose low thumping shot flummoxed Onana.
Grimsby had the ball in the net again not long after although it was ruled out by the referee for a double handball by Cameron Gardner. There’s no VAR before the final of the Carabao Cup and Grimsby took advantage with a very physical approach from corners but that was no excuse for Onana completely misjudging the cross from a corner which led to Tyrell Warren – a former United academy hopeful – bundling in a second.
United offered very little down the other end, even with Benjamin Sesko making his full debut and Amad Diallo returning to the attack. It took substitute Bryan Mbeumo to give them hope with a low strike into the bottom corner and then Maguire completed the comeback in the 89th minute with a taste of Grimsby’s own medicine – aerial bombardment from a corner.
So to penalties it went and Matheus Cunha looked set to give United a happy ending but he missed the fifth, taking it to sudden death. Every other United player – including Onana – scored so it went to a second round of kicks where Mbeumo caved in to the pressure and sent his shot off the bar. Grimsby’s elated supporters flooded onto the pitch while United exited the first of only two cup competitions they will play this season, which has already got off to an ominous start.
BALLGM rates Man United’s players from Blundell Park…
Andre Onana (2/10):
Back to his very worst. Feebly beaten at his near post and then had no clue how to deal with the corner. His kicking was awful too, ballooning one attempted pass to Dorgu into the stands.
Tyler Fredricson (3/10):
Looked completely rattled by the occasion and couldn’t cope with Grimsby’s breaks, be they on the floor or in the air. Hauled off at half-time for De Ligt.
Harry Maguire (5/10):
Didn’t use his experience to his advantage defensively but made the difference going forward. Too passive on the corner leading to the second goal. He might have given away a third if VAR had been in use as he passed to Gardner, who put the ball in but was ruled offside. But cometh the hour cometh the man and yet again he saved United with a last-gasp goal.
Ayden Heaven (5/10):
At least showed some composure and some fight. He blocked Gardner from scoring a third and was close to heading in an Mbeumo cross before being taken off for Mount.
Diogo Dalot (4/10):
Couldn’t cut out Grimsby’s through balls and was too easily beaten to the ball.
Kobbie Mainoo (5/10):
The one starter who did ok in the first half. Had a wayward shot but compensated with a nice through ball for Mbeumo.
Manuel Ugarte (4/10):
Fans expected him to thrive on gritty occasions like this but instead he wilted. Bullied off the ball leading to the opener and was taken off at half-time.
Patrick Dorgu (4/10):
Couldn’t combine with his team-mates going forward and didn’t do enough defensively.
Matheus Cunha (5/10):
Didn’t cope well with the atmosphere and conditions at first but grew into the game and his class helped United find their way back. But then he bottled it from the spot.
Benjamin Sesko (4/10):
A grim day to make his full debut and he looked nothing like a £74m player. Twice denied by goalkeeper Christy Pym in the first half but neither save was particularly impressive.
Amad Diallo (4/10):
A flat performance despite playing in his best position. Had one effort comfortably saved and barely managed to frighten the defence before making way for Zirkzee.
Matthijs de Ligt (6/10):
Gave United more fight and more stability at the back which was crucial to the turnaround. But how did he miss that last-gasp open goal?!
Bruno Fernandes (6/10):
Gave United some control and a calm head (no, really) which helped them get their grip on the game. Denied by Pym but beat him from the spot twice.
Bryan Mbeumo (7/10):
His direct play and prowess got United back into it, giving them an outlet as well as some clinical finishing. His second missed penalty may have cost them the shootout but they wouldn’t have got there if it hadn’t been for him.
Mason Mount (6/10):
Gave United some quality just as Grimsby’s legs were tiring and it was his corner which led to Maguire levelling. Dispatched his penalty with confidence.
Joshua Zirkzee (N/A):
His physical presence frightened the hosts when it mattered most. Held his nerve from the spot.
Ruben Amorim (5/10):
Used his substitutions well but was lucky to be able to call upon such quality and even so was fortunate to make it to penalties. Set another unwanted milestone: United’s earliest Carabao Cup defeat for 11 years.
