Manchester United suffered a stunning and humiliating defeat to fourth-tier Grimsby Town in the second round of the EFL Carabao Cup on August 26, 2025, losing 12-11 on penalties after a dramatic 2-2 draw at Blundell Park. This result marks one of the greatest upsets in the modern era of the competition
Grimsby took an early 2-0 lead with first-half goals from Charles Vernam and Tyrell Warren. Manchester United, under manager Rúben Amorim, mounted a late comeback with goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Harry Maguire to force the match to penalties.
The shootout was exceptionally long, with all 11 players from each side taking a penalty, resulting in a 10-10 score after the initial 11 rounds.
Man United lose to Grimsby on penalties
The shootout continued to sudden death, with goalkeepers on both sides scoring their penalties, until the 13th round where Grimsby’s Darragh Burns scored and Mbeumo’s penalty hit the crossbar, sealing one of the club’s most memorable victories in over 75 years.
This defeat is particularly shocking as Grimsby Town is a League Two side, which is the fourth tier of English football, and the vast gap between the clubs is underscored by their squad valuations—Grimsby’s squad valued at around €3.6 million compared to Manchester United’s €883.6 million.
It is the first time a fourth-division team has knocked Manchester United out of this tournament, ending what many saw as one of the Red Devils’ more accessible routes to silverware this season.
Manchester United’s night was marked by some individual errors and tactical criticisms, especially towards goalkeeper Andre Onana’s performance and the team’s 3-4-2-1 system that seemed ill-suited for the challenges presented by Grimsby. The loss extends United’s winless start to the season and adds to the mounting pressure on manager Rúben Amorim.
The match brought historic significance and immense excitement at Blundell Park, with the stadium packed beyond capacity and the home supporters reveling in what has been called the “greatest upset of all time” in the Carabao Cup by some commentators.
This result is a major blow for Manchester United’s aspirations in domestic cup competitions this season and a historic highlight for Grimsby Town, setting a compelling narrative of David versus Goliath in English football