Grimsby Town 2-2 (12-11) Manchester United Player Ratings: Andre Onana Gets 1/10 As Grimsby Town Get Historic Carabao Cup Win To Knock Out Sloppy Red Devils

Manchester United were knocked out of the second round of the 2025/26 Carabao Cup after a 2-2 (12-11) loss to Grimsby Town at Blundell Park on Wednesday evening. The Red Devils initially came back from going 2-0 down in normal time, but the hosts showed a lot of grit to hold their own in the penalty shootout to get a big win.

Manchester United started the game by dominating the majority of the possession but were not at all convincing with their work in the key areas. They looked vulnerable against the crossing tactics from Grimsby Town and the hosts' perseverance paid off in the 23rd minute. A cross into the box was capitalized on by striker Charles Vernam, who powered a shot past a helpless Andre Onana to make it 1-0.

Just when the Red Devils thought that things couldn't be any worse for them, exactly that happened. In the 30th minute, a Grimsby Town corner caused Andre Onana to panic and allow an easy open goal tap-in from Tyrell Warren, who made it 2-0 for Grimsby Town.

The Red Devils threw the proverbial kitchen sink at Grimsby Town after the start of the second half. After a lot of trying, Manchester United were able to pull one goal back in the 75th minute as substitute Bryan Mbeumo produced a smart finish into the top corner to make it 2-1 in the 75th minute. Harry Maguire was able to come up big in the 89th minute with a powerful header to make it 2-2 and complete a comeback for his side. However, both sides were unable to get a winner, and a penalty shootout was forced.

The penalty shootout was a dramatic affair as it stretched out until the very end. In the end, Mbeumo had a late penalty hit the bar as Grimsby Town went away with a 2-2 (12-11) win to move ahead in the Carabao Cup at Manchester United's expense.

Here are our Grimsby Town vs Manchester United Player Ratings.

Grimsby Town Player Ratings

Here are our Grimsby Town Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Christy Pym - 8/10

Pym held his own in the goal, being sharp against the opposition attacks and coming up with some clutch reflexes. He made a few impressive saves with quick movement in his goal. Could've done perhaps better to deny Maguire's header for his goal. Made a great save in the penalty shootout.

Defenders

Harvey Rodgers - 6.5/10

Rodgers did a pretty solid job keeping Dorgu quiet with his sturdy defensive skills. He made some crucial clearances and came up with some key challenges to frustrate the visitors.

Tyrell Warren - 7.5/10

Warren was very mature and proactive with his defensive contribution against the Red Devils. He made a number of key challenges to frustrate them and was also gifted the easiest goal of his career with an open goal tap-in.

Cameron McJannet - 6/10

McJannet held his own at the back, maintaining a pretty sturdy defensive line with his teammate. He was often in the right places to make some crucial clearances and didn't look intimidated by the Premier League side's attack. Couldn't react quickly enough for Mbeumo's goal.

Jayden Sweeney - 6/10

Sweeney was able to hold his own on the left-back role, having to work really hard to frustrate the visitors. He won a number of duels and made some challenges to trouble Manchester United and was proactive for most of the game. However, he gave Mbeumo too much space for his goal.

Midfielders

George McEachran - 7/10

McEachran worked really hard in the deeper midfield role to help his side sustain themselves against the Red Devils. He came up with some key possession recoveries and won some nice duels to stop the visitors from controlling the key areas in his side's half.

Kieran Green - 6.5/10

The physical Green was able to throw his weight around in the midfield area, making it tough for the opposition midfielders from creating chances. He won a number of key challenges and covered a lot of ground before being taken off.

Evan Khouri - 7/10

Khouri might not have been able to get that many touches on the ball, but he covered a lot of ground to help his side keep a sturdy shape. He won a number of key duels and was able to add a lot of steel to his backline.

Forwards

Cameron Gardner - 6/10

Gardner worked really hard on the front line to win some key challenges and drive his side forward. He did get into some promising positions but was unable to finish off chances that well.

Darragh Burns - 7.5/10

Burns was a threatening figure on the right side, getting into some unpredictable areas to trouble them. He created some promising chances with his crosses and was able to deliver a key pass to assist the opening goal. Converted his penalty in the shootout perfectly.

Charles Vernam - 9/10

Vernam was a threat going forward for his side, as he often got into the key attacking areas to cause the Red Devils major issues. He linked up really nicely with his teammates and then scored a smashing goal to put his side ahead. Assisted the second goal as well.

Substitutes

Geza Turi - 6/10

Turi was able to win a number of key duels after coming on, but failed to really help his side dominate the midfield battle.

Henry Brown - 5.5/10

Brown couldn't really add any steel to his side's midfield, losing quite a few duels.

Clarke Oduor - 5.5/10

Oduor was able to win some nice duels after coming on, but failed to add that vital protection to his backline. But he saw his penalty saved.

Jaze Kabia - 5.5/10

Kabia failed to properly trouble his side's backline and couldn't get at the end of any chances. Took his penalty relatively well.

Reece Staunton - N/R

Staunton was unable to really add much defensive steel to his side after coming on.

Manager

David Artell - 8.5/10

David Artell did an admirable job in inspiring his side to take the fight to the Premier League side and perfectly capitalize on their weaknesses. His side produced a valiant defensive effort and took their chances really well. Then his side showed a lot of grit to get the win in the shootout, ensuring a big result for Artell.

Manchester United Player Ratings

Here is our Manchester United Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Andre Onana - 1/10

An absolutely disastrous performance from Onana. He was shaky with his positioning all game long and got too easily beaten for the first goal. Made a horrible lack of judgement for the second and looked shockingly error-prone all game long. A horrible performance all around despite saving a penalty kick.

Defenders

Tyler Fredricson - 4.5/10

Fredricson had a tough time against the pace and aerial prowess of Grimsby Town. He won a few nice duels, but completely lost sight of Vernam for his goal and looked vulnerable against a lot of Grimsby Town attacks.

Harry Maguire - 7.5/10

Maguire was not really able to hold together an impenetrable backline despite trying his best. He was able to come up with some key defensive contribution, making a number of key clearances and winning a lot of duels. Then scored a great header to make it 2-2. Smashed in a great penalty too.

Ayden Heaven - 5/10

Heaven tried his best to stand out by maintaining a hard-working nature, but he overcommitted on multiple occasions. Couldn't react quickly enough to stop the cross for the first goal and despite making some key challenges, he was caught in some awkward positions many times in the game,

Diogo Dalot - 4.5/10

Dalot was not really able to stand out as an attacking wing-back in this game. He whipped in some decent crosses, but was unable to create anything really noteworthy and made some silly errors defensively as well.

Patrick Dorgu - 4/10

Dorgu saw a lot of Manchester United's movement in the first half go through his side. He was, however, unable to pick them up as most of his crosses went astray and he was unable to create anything noteworthy.

Midfielders

Manuel Ugarte - 5/10

Ugarte was able to win a few duels in the midfield battle, but he struggled to help his side dominate the midfield duels. Couldn't really move ball around well and taken off at half-time after a shaky performance.

Kobbie Mainoo - 7/10

Mainoo might be strongly linked to an exit from Manchester United, but he was able to prove his quality with a compelling performance in a tricky environment. He moved the ball forward really well, won quite a few challenges and played a nice assist for Mbeumo's goal.

Forwards

Amad Diallo - 5/10

Diallo did not really have a memorable game at Blundell Park. He was able to get into some promising positions many times, but his final passes were really awry. He overhit a number of passes and was unable to create anything major.

Matheus Cunha - 4.5/10

Cunha was able to move his side forward nicely with his prolific, but his final third work was questionable. He was unable to create anything major and couldn't really test the opposition goalkeeper either. Took a horrible penalty.

Benjamin Sesko - 4/10

Sesko made his full debut against Grimsby Town, but he seems far from the final product. Had a header saved really well in the first half, but unable to create anything big apart from that and unable to create much either. Missed a number of possible scorable chances.

Substitutes

Bruno Fernandes- 6/10

Fernandes added a bit more stability in the midfield after coming on, having a goal-bound shot saved really well in the second half. Took both his penalties well.

Bryan Mbeumo - 6.5/10

Mbeumo added more energy to his side's attack with his clever movement and output. Produced a slick finish for his goal. Scored one penalty well and then missed another.

Matthijs de Ligt - 6/10

De Ligt added more energy to his side's backline, winning some key challenges.

Mason Mount - 7/10

Mount automatically raised his side's energy levels after coming on, helping them move forward swiftly. Made a nice cross for Maguire's goal and converted his penalty well.

Joshua Zirkzee - N/R

Zirkzee failed to really elevate his side's attacking brilliant. Ended up getting booked for a nasty foul late on.

Manager

Ruben Amorim - 4.5/10

Amorim made a host of rotations for this game and that ended up working against him. His side was sluggish an defensively error-prone, making some silly errors ending up in the goals. He couldn't really inspire them to properly dominate the game. His substitons helped, but his selection of a poor goalkeeper resulted in the loss.

Sportsdunia's Man of the Match goes to Charles Vernam.