Two Andre Onana fumbles sent Manchester United all the way to Hell as they lived out a living nightmare of a Carabao Cup tie at Grimsby Town. Bryan Mbeumo and Harry Maguire somehow got them out of trouble, salvaging a 2-2 draw and taking them to the safety of penalties. But just when they thought they were out, they pulled themselves back into the quagmire as Matheus Cunha and then Bryan Mbeumo erred in a marathon shootout which ended 12-11 to the League Two side, leaving United out of the Carabao Cup at the first hurdle for the first time since 2014.
Ruben Amorim made eight changes to his line-up from Fulham but his starting XI still cost more than £400m in transfer fees alone. And yet Grimsby didn't just match them, they out-played them. The League Two side's unrelenting energy suffocated United, who were struggling to cope even before they capitulated for the first goal. Amad and Manuel Ugarte were cleaned out by Kieran Green in midfield and it led to a sweeping cross towards Charles Vernam, whose low thumping shot flummoxed Onana.
Grimsby had the ball in the net again not long after although it was ruled out by the referee for a double handball by Cameron Gardner. There's no VAR before the final of the Carabao Cup and Grimsby took advantage with a very physical approach from corners but that was no excuse for Onana completely misjudging the cross from a corner which led to Tyrell Warren - a former United academy hopeful - bundling in a second.
United offered very little down the other end, even with Benjamin Sesko making his full debut and Amad Diallo returning to the attack. It took substitute Bryan Mbeumo to give them hope with a low strike into the bottom corner and then Maguire completed the comeback in the 89th minute with a taste of Grimsby's own medicine - aerial bombardment from a corner.
So to penalties it went and Matheus Cunha looked set to give United a happy ending but he missed the fifth, taking it to sudden death. Every other United player - including Onana - scored so it went to a second round of kicks where Mbeumo caved in to the pressure and sent his shot off the bar. Grimsby's elated supporters flooded onto the pitch while United exited the first of only two cup competitions they will play this season, which has already got off to an ominous start.
GOAL rates Man United's players from Blundell Park...





