Grimsby Town vs Manchester United: Complete Stats and Analysis (Carabao Cup 2025)

On August 27, 2025, fourth-tier Grimsby Town produced one of the most stunning upsets in Carabao Cup history by eliminating Manchester United on penalties after a 2-2 draw at Blundell Park. The shootout ended 12-11 in favour of the home side, with 23 consecutive successful spot-kicks before a miss decided the tie. This article breaks down all the key statistics, including the full penalty sequence, lineups, head-to-head record, and available advanced metrics.

Manchester United entered the second-round tie as overwhelming favourites, but a combination of defensive errors from goalkeeper André Onana and a disciplined Grimsby performance turned the night into a historic occasion. The result marked the first time United have ever been eliminated from a cup competition by a team from England’s fourth tier, according to match reports from ESPN.

The defeat adds further pressure on manager Rubén Amorim, whose side are already without European football in the 2025/26 season. For Grimsby, the win represents the biggest victory in the club’s recent history and earns them a place in the third round of the competition.

How did the penalty shootout end? Grimsby Town’s stunning 12-11 win over Manchester United

What was the final score in regulation?

After 90 minutes, the score was 2-2. Grimsby led 2-0 at half-time through goals from Charles Vernam (22′) and Tyrell Warren (30′), both of which stemmed from errors by André Onana. Manchester United pulled one back through Bryan Mbeumo in the 75th minute, and Harry Maguire headed home a corner in the 89th minute to force extra time. However, no further goals were scored, and the match went straight to penalties.

Which players scored in the shootout?

The shootout lasted 13 rounds and involved almost every outfield player plus both goalkeepers. The complete sequence, based on match data compiled from Flashscore and other sources, is as follows:

What was the sequence of penalties?

• Grimsby: Jaze Kabia scored
• Man United: Bruno Fernandes scored
• Grimsby: Darragh Burns scored
• Man United: Bryan Mbeumo scored
• Grimsby: Clarke Oduor scored
• Man United: Mason Mount scored
• Grimsby: Reece Staunton scored
• Man United: Diogo Dalot scored
• Grimsby: Henry Brown scored
• Man United: Matheus Cunha – saved/failed
• Grimsby: Cameron McJannet scored
• Man United: Joshua Zirkzee scored
• Grimsby: Géza Dávid Turi scored
• Man United: Kobbie Mainoo scored
• Grimsby: Jayden Sweeney scored
• Man United: Harry Maguire scored
• Grimsby: Evan Khouri scored
• Man United: Matthijs de Ligt scored
• Grimsby: Tyrell Warren scored
• Man United: Benjamin Šeško scored
• Grimsby: Christy Pym scored
• Man United: André Onana scored
• Grimsby: Jaze Kabia scored
• Man United: Bruno Fernandes scored
• Grimsby: Darragh Burns scored
• Man United: Bryan Mbeumo missed – shootout over

The decisive miss came from Mbeumo, with the score at 12-11 to Grimsby after 23 consecutive successful penalties had been converted.

Match Overview

Key Insights

• Grimsby Town (fourth tier) produced one of the biggest upsets in Carabao Cup history by eliminating Premier League giants Manchester United.
• The penalty shootout, ending 12-11, was the longest in the club’s history and featured 22 successful spot-kicks before a miss decided the tie.
• Manchester United’s two late goals (Mbeumo 75′, Maguire 89′) came from set-pieces, highlighting their reliance on set plays when trailing.
• Expected goals (xG) likely favoured Manchester United, but Grimsby’s clinical finishing and defensive resilience turned the tide.
• Grimsby Town last faced Manchester United in 1991 (League Cup).
• This was Manchester United’s first loss to a fourth-tier side since a 2018 FA Cup defeat to Derby County (when Derby was in the Championship).

Key Match Facts

What is the all-time head-to-head record between Grimsby Town and Manchester United?

How many times have they met?

According to the historical archive compiled by MUFC Info, the two clubs had met only a handful of times before this Carabao Cup tie. Their most recent encounter prior to 2025 was in the 1991 League Cup, a match that Manchester United won.

What was Manchester United’s record against Grimsby before this match?

Before the upset, Manchester United had never lost to Grimsby Town in competitive fixtures. Their record consisted of several wins and a single draw – a 1-1 result in 1987. This match therefore marks Grimsby’s first ever victory over United.

What were the aggregate goals in previous encounters?

Exact aggregate figures are not publicly available from the provided sources, but the historical data indicates that United had comfortably outscored Grimsby in all previous meetings. The 2025 shootout win adds a remarkable chapter to a very one-sided rivalry.

What were the starting lineups and key advanced stats (xG)?

What was the expected goals (xG) for each team?

Reliable expected goals (xG) data for this match has not yet been published by a trustworthy source. The match reports from Sky Sports provide basic possession and shot statistics but do not include xG figures. It is reasonable to assume that Manchester United generated a higher xG total due to their territorial dominance in the second half, but this remains unconfirmed.

Who were the key players in the match?

Confirmed players for Grimsby Town from the ESPN match page include Christy Pym (goalkeeper), Tyrell Warren, George McEachran, Clarke Oduor, Jayden Sweeney, Harvey Rodgers, Reece Staunton, Evan Khouri, Kieran Green, Géza Dávid Turi, Charles Vernam, Henry Brown, Darragh Burns, Cameron Gardner, and Jaze Kabia. For Manchester United, the following players were involved: André Onana, Bruno Fernandes, Bryan Mbeumo, Mason Mount, Diogo Dalot, Matheus Cunha, Joshua Zirkzee, Kobbie Mainoo, Harry Maguire, Matthijs de Ligt, and Benjamin Šeško. The United lineup was heavily rotated, but a complete starting XI list is not available from the provided sources.

How did the substitutions impact the game?

Substitution details are not fully recorded in the research brief. However, it is known that Matheus Cunha missed a penalty in the shootout, which proved crucial. The introduction of Benjamin Šeško and Joshua Zirkzee added attacking threat late in regulation, but Grimsby’s defence held firm.

What is the complete timeline of this Carabao Cup thriller?

When did each goal happen?

1. 22′ – Goal: Charles Vernam (Grimsby) – 1-0. Error from Onana.
2. 30′ – Goal: Tyrell Warren (Grimsby) – 2-0. Onana fails to deal with cross.
3. 75′ – Goal: Bryan Mbeumo (Man United) – 2-1. Composed finish.
4. 89′ – Goal: Harry Maguire (Man United) – 2-2. Header from corner.
5. 90+5′ – Full time: 2-2. No extra time played.
6. Penalties – Grimsby win 12-11 after 13 rounds. Mbeumo misses decisive kick.

What were the key moments in the penalty shootout?

The shootout featured a sequence of 23 consecutive successful penalties, from the first kick until Matheus Cunha’s failure. After that, every remaining kick was converted until Bryan Mbeumo’s 12th attempt for Manchester United. The miss ended the marathon and sparked wild celebrations from the home crowd at Blundell Park.

Which incidents led to the upset?

The defining turning points were Onana’s two first-half errors, Grimsby’s resilience after conceding two late goals, and the near-perfect execution of penalties by the fourth-tier side. United’s inability to convert their second-half dominance into a winner in regulation time ultimately cost them.

What do we know for certain, and what remains unconfirmed?

What is the wider context of this result in Carabao Cup history?

Fourth-tier teams beating Premier League sides in the Carabao Cup is rare, but this result stands out because of the margin of the upset and the manner of the victory. Grimsby were 2-0 up within half an hour and still managed to win on penalties after being pegged back. According to the Grimsby Town official website, it was “one of the most famous nights in the club’s history.”

For Manchester United, the early cup exit adds to a difficult season. The club is already without European football in 2025/26 and this defeat will intensify scrutiny on manager Rubén Amorim. United’s reliance on set-pieces for both goals also raises questions about their attacking creativity against deep defences.

Grimsby’s game plan under manager David Artell (assuming – not specified in sources) worked to perfection: a high press, quick transitions, and capitalising on individual errors. Their compact defence nullified United’s usual threats, and their penalty takers showed remarkable composure.

What did the clubs say about the match?

“It was one of the most famous nights in the club’s history.”

– Grimsby Town official website (gtfc.co.uk)

“Manchester United suffered a stunning upset to fourth-tier Grimsby Town in the Carabao Cup second round after a remarkable 12-11 win on penalties.”

– ESPN.co.uk

What is the bottom line from this historic upset?

This was a 2-2 draw decided by a 12-11 penalty shootout, with Grimsby Town producing an extraordinary cup upset over Manchester United. The defining storylines were Onana’s mistakes, United’s late comeback, an exceptionally long shootout, and Grimsby’s historic advance to the third round. For a deeper breakdown of the match events, read our Grimsby Town recent results page.

Frequently Asked Questions