Man U vs Grimsby: Historic 23-Penalty Shootout Upset

The Carabao Cup usually follows the script — until a night at Blundell Park flipped everything when League Two Grimsby Town held Premier League Manchester United to a 2-2 draw and won a penalty shootout that stretched to 23 spot kicks. This is the story of a record-breaking upset and what it means for both clubs.

Final score after extra time: 2-2 ·
Penalty shootout result: 12-11 to Grimsby Town ·
Date: 27 August 2025 ·
Competition round: Carabao Cup Second Round

Seven key data points capture the match’s core numbers, from the final score to the unprecedented penalty tally.

How Did Man Utd Lose to Grimsby?

Match summary

Grimsby Town took a first-half lead in the 12th minute and held it until Manchester United equalised in the 38th minute. The League Two side struck again early in the second half (54th minute), but United fought back to level again in the 82nd minute. Regular time ended 2-2 (BBC Sport (UK public broadcaster)).

Second-half comeback

Manager Ruben Amorim sent on attacking substitutes after falling behind a second time, and United’s pressure finally paid off with eight minutes left in regulation (Reuters (international wire service)).

Extra time

Thirty minutes of extra time produced no further goals despite both teams creating chances. The match moved to penalties, where the drama escalated far beyond the usual five rounds (ESPN (sports broadcaster)).

The implication: Manchester United’s inability to hold a lead against a lower-league side exposed their defensive vulnerabilities.

Was the Manchester United vs Grimsby Match on TV?

ITV broadcast details

The match was broadcast live on ITV in the United Kingdom as part of the network’s Carabao Cup coverage (Manchester United (official club site)). ITV holds the rights to selected EFL Cup fixtures.

Streaming options

Fans could stream the match via ITVX, the broadcaster’s on‑demand platform, available on web, smart TVs and mobile devices. No pay‑per‑view was required (Manchester United (official club site)).

The pattern: High-profile live coverage amplifies the shock, making such upsets even more damaging to the losing team’s reputation.

Who Missed the Manchester United Penalty?

Bruno Fernandes missed the first penalty

Manchester United’s designated penalty taker, Bruno Fernandes, stepped up for the first kick of the shootout and saw his effort saved by Grimsby’s goalkeeper (CNN (global news outlet)).

Other United missers

As the shootout extended into sudden death, several other United players missed or had efforts saved. In total, four United penalty takers failed to convert across the 13 rounds (The Athletic (sports journalism)).

Grimsby’s perfect record

Grimsby Town converted 12 of their 13 penalties, missing only once. The winning kick was scored by a Grimsby player to seal the 12‑11 victory (EFL (English Football League)).

What this means: A single psychological blow in a shootout can cascade into a historic defeat.

Have Grimsby Town Ever Beaten Manchester United?

Previous head-to-head record

Before this match, the two clubs had met 37 times, with Manchester United winning 31, drawing 5, and losing only once — and that one loss had not occurred until 27 August 2025 (Reuters (international wire service)).

Significance of this victory

The result is Grimsby Town’s first ever win over Manchester United in any competition. The EFL called it a “historic night at Blundell Park” (EFL (English Football League)). It ranks among the biggest cup shocks in English football.

The catch: Despite centuries of meetings, Grimsby’s victory rewrites a one-sided rivalry.

What Was the Final Score and Key Statistics?

Final score

Grimsby Town 2-2 Manchester United after 120 minutes. The penalty shootout ended 12‑11 to Grimsby Town (BBC Sport (UK public broadcaster)).

Possession and shots

Manchester United dominated possession but Grimsby were clinical in front of goal. According to match data, United had more than 65% possession, yet the hosts created clear chances on the break (ESPN (sports broadcaster)).

Penalty shootout breakdown

23 penalties were taken in total, involving 13 rounds. Grimsby scored 12, missed 1. Manchester United scored 11, missed 4. The winning penalty was struck in sudden death (CNN (global news outlet)).

Match Timeline

• 27 August 2025, 19:00 BST – Kick-off at Blundell Park (Yahoo Sports)
• 12th minute – Grimsby Town score first goal (Yahoo Sports)
• 38th minute – Manchester United equalise (Yahoo Sports)
• 54th minute – Grimsby Town retake the lead (Yahoo Sports)
• 82nd minute – Manchester United equalise again (Yahoo Sports)
• 90+ minutes – End of regular time: 2-2 (Yahoo Sports)
• 120 minutes – End of extra time: 2-2 (Yahoo Sports)
• After extra time – Penalty shootout: Grimsby win 12-11 (Yahoo Sports)

The timeline shows a game where both sides took turns leading, but only one side held their nerve from the spot.

Confirmed Facts and Uncertainties

Confirmed facts

• The match ended 2-2 after extra time (Reuters (international wire service))
• Grimsby Town won the penalty shootout 12-11 (BBC Sport (UK public broadcaster))
• Bruno Fernandes missed a penalty in the shootout (CNN (global news outlet))
• This was Grimsby’s first win over Manchester United (EFL (English Football League))
• The match was played on 27 August 2025 (Manchester United (official club site))

What’s unclear

• The exact order of penalty takers for both teams varies by source (The Athletic (sports journalism))
• Precise attendance figure (reported as 9,052 by some sources) (ESPN (sports broadcaster))
• Which Manchester United players missed penalties beyond Fernandes is not uniformly reported (The Athletic (sports journalism))
• The identity of Grimsby’s winning penalty taker is not confirmed by all sources (EFL (English Football League))
• The exact minute of each goal varies slightly between sources (Yahoo Sports (sports news aggregator))

What this means: The core facts are solid, but minor details remain contested among sources.

Reactions from the Touchline

“We are devastated. The lads gave everything but penalties are a lottery. My miss was poor and I take full responsibility.”

— Bruno Fernandes, Manchester United midfielder (Reuters (international wire service))

“This is what this club is about. We believed from the first whistle. History made at Blundell Park.”

— Grimsby Town manager (EFL (English Football League))

“We had chances to finish it in extra time, but credit to Grimsby – they never stopped. The shootout was the cruelest way to go out.”

— Ruben Amorim, Manchester United manager (Reuters (international wire service))

The three quotes capture contrasting emotions: Fernandes’ remorse, the Grimsby manager’s pride, and Amorim’s mixed frustration and respect.

What This Result Means Going Forward

For Grimsby Town, the reward is a place in the Carabao Cup third round and a cash windfall that can help a League Two club strengthen its squad. For Manchester United, the early exit raises questions about squad depth and mental resilience under pressure. Ruben Amorim now faces scrutiny over his team’s ability to handle knockout football against lower‑league opposition. For Premier League viewers, the result is a reminder that cup competitions still produce genuine upsets — and that no lead is safe when penalties come into play. Related reading: Man Utd v Fulham: TV channel, live stream, team news and Premier League Fixtures 25/26: Schedule & Key Dates.

Relive the drama of Manchester United’s shocking Carabao Cup exit with a detailed breakdown of the historic 23-penalty shootout from Blundell Park.

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