Grimsby Town survived a late scare before winning on penalties in a breathless but controversial encounter with Manchester United in the second round of the Carabao Cup.
For the first time since 1948, both sides faced off in a thrilling night of football that didn’t disappoint, though regular problems persisted for Ruben Amorim’s men who were saved after a call by the linesman ruled the hosts offside in the second half.
That could have given Grimsby an even bigger lead after Charles Vernam opened the scoring with 22 minutes gone when he beat Andre Onana at his near post before the United goalkeeper made a torrid mistake for Grimsby’s second, which Tyrell Warren ran in to send Blundell Park into elation.
The visitors were forced to introduce their best assets in Bruno Fernandes and Bryan Mbeumo at half time which enforced a late comeback when the latter scored after 75 minutes before Harry Maguire headed in from a corner 14 minutes later, sending the game to penalties.
And 24 penalties later the game was decided after Mbeumo missed, having scored his first spot kick, to send Grimsby through as fans flooded the pitch on this more-than memorable day for those on the Lincolnshire coast.
Story of the Match
Grimsby’s home of 127 years may have never felt a quake like it. On this famed, historic day, this day that was full of celebration and emotion in the Northeast, a series of exultant events unfurled against one of the most declining clubs in English football.
Amorim’s task since joining United in November last year was to revive a club that saw itself nosediving into an unpredictable future but when League Two high-fliers Grimsby scored twice inside eight first-half minutes, the Portuguese manager’s story never looked so bleak.
Some supporters, who couldn’t make it into this deafening stadium, belted out the words “you’re getting sacked in the morning” from the roofs of their houses moments after Vernam gave the Mariners the lead in a sight that left the visiting side stunned.
Kobbie Mainoo was the headline ahead of kick-off when he made his first start of the season but the young midfielder lost possession after colliding with Manuel Ugarte, which gifted Grimsby an opportunity to counter-attack.
From there, the ball eventually found itself to Darragh Burns down the right and, with Vernam oncoming at the back post, he crossed with flawless accuracy before the first blow to United ensued.
Heavy rain and lightning threatened to stop the game momentarily (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
Vernam, who has played a huge part in Grimsby’s unbeaten start to the season, touched the delivery down like a striker in the most pre-eminent of divisions before striking powerfully underneath Onana at the near post.
Seats drummed, stands rocked and fans roared but it was the second goal which had a much sweeter taste when the hosts took their next step to reaching the third round of a tournament that is so familiar with giant killings.
After only 30 minutes of exhilarating football, more problems transpired for United when Onana made a goalkeeping mistake to deepen his side’s deficit.
A short corner led to an inviting cross being sent into the United box that should have been cleared by the Cameroon international but, instead, the ball founds its way into the path of Warren, who had little idea that the ball was in his possession until it rolled into the back of the empty net.
United managed to reply with just over 15 minutes of football remaining when Mbeumo managed to curl an outside-the-box effort into the far corner of Pym’s otherwise impenetrable goal but, even with the game was taken to penalties by Maguire, they couldn’t find that boost to deny Grimsby one of the greatest days in their history.