Manchester United Suffer Humiliating Carabao Cup Exit: Andre Onana's Errors Prove Costly in 12-11 Penalty Shootout Loss to Grimsby Town

Manchester United suffered a humiliating Carabao Cup exit, losing 12-11 on penalties to League Two side Grimsby Town after a chaotic 2-2 draw. Goalkeeper Andre Onana's costly mistakes, including two fumbles, allowed Grimsby to seize control of the tie. Despite substitutes Harry Maguire and Bryan Mbeumo scoring late goals, United ultimately lost in a marathon penalty shootout. The defeat marks their earliest League Cup exit since 2014.

Manchester United suffered a humiliating exit from the Carabao Cup, losing 12-11 on penalties to League Two side Grimsby Town after a chaotic 2-2 draw. The match, played at Blundell Park, was marked by several key moments that turned the tide in favor of the underdogs.

The first half saw Grimsby Town take a 2-0 lead with goals from Charles Vernam and Tyrell Warren. Manchester United, however, managed to claw their way back into the game in the second half, with late goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Harry Maguire. Despite the equalizer, the match went to a penalty shootout, which proved to be the deciding factor.

Goalkeeper Andre Onana's costly mistakes, including two fumbles, allowed Grimsby to seize control of the tie. Despite substitutes Harry Maguire and Bryan Mbeumo scoring late goals, United ultimately lost in a marathon penalty shootout. The defeat marks their earliest League Cup exit since 2014.

The result is a significant blow to Manchester United, who have been struggling both in the Premier League and in cup competitions. The club finished 15th in the Premier League last season and missed out on all three European competitions for the first time since 2014-15. This season, they have started poorly, losing and drawing their opening two games, and now their cup campaign has been ended by a fourth-division team.

The defeat highlights several issues within the Manchester United squad. Their goalkeeper problems, poor defending, and lack of a functioning midfield have all been exposed. Moreover, the club's stubborn adherence to the 3-4-3 system under manager Ruben Amorim has been called into question, as it has not suited the players well in the Premier League.

The summer transfer window is set to close on September 1, and Manchester United will need to address these issues if they hope to turn their fortunes around. However, with their expensive group of players and the current state of the squad, the task ahead seems daunting.

References:
[1] https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/soccer/2025/08/27/grimsby-town-manchester-united-efl-cup-penalties-results-highlights/85855408007/
[2] https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/us/manchester-united-suffer-most-embarrassing-results-in-premier-league-giants-history-eliminated-by-4th-division-team-grimsby-town-in-carabao-league-cup/articleshow/123552101.cms
[3] https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/46089310/man-united-amorim-hit-new-low-loss-grimsby