Manchester United suffered a historic loss Wednesday, losing to fourth-tier Grimsby Town 12-11 on the road in a marathon shootout that eliminated Man U. from the English League Cup.
Man U., which needed two goals in the final 15 minutes just to get into the shootout, remains winless to start its campaign. The club settled for a 1-1 draw against Fulham following a 1-0 loss to Arsenal in its first two Premier League matches, which leaves them in 16th place in the standings.
It was the side’s first loss to a fourth-tier team, which happened in front of 8,647 joyous spectators in Cleesthorpes — 120 miles east of Manchester.
The heavy favorite fell behind the League Two team 2-0 in the first 30 minutes thanks to goals from Charles Vernam and Tyrell Warren. Bryan Mbeumo and Harry Maguire scored for Manchester United to trigger the shootout, but Mbeumo’s equalizing attempt hit the crossbar to put the wraps on the 12-11 win for Grimsby.
The two teams had not faced one another since 1948.
Man U. placed nine shots on goal and had 70 percent of the possession time compared to Grimsby Town’s four shots on goal and 30 percent possession, but Man U. manager Ruben Amorim told the BBC that he thought “the best team won; the only team that was on the pitch.”
“We were completely lost.”
United finished last season 15th in the standings, their worst finish since being relegated in 1974.
–Field Level Media
