Grimsby Stun Manchester United in EFL Cup Thriller

Football fans were left stunned on Wednesday night as Manchester United suffered a shock exit in the second round of the EFL Cup, losing on penalties to League Two side Grimsby Town.

United looked in deep trouble early on, trailing by two goals. But they clawed their way back into the tie, with summer signing Bryan Mbeumo netting his first goal for the club since arriving from Brentford, and captain Harry Maguire adding another to make it 2-2.

That set up a nerve-shredding penalty shootout which became one of the longest in recent memory. Both sides converted flawlessly until the decisive moment when Mbeumo, the earlier hero, saw his spot-kick saved. Grimsby triumphed 12-11, knocking out the Premier League giants in dramatic fashion.

While United bowed out, other top-flight sides had more joy in their midweek fixtures. Fulham, Everton, and Brighton & Hove Albion all booked their spots in the third round, with Brighton particularly ruthless in a 6-0 demolition of Championship side Oxford United. On Tuesday, Brentford, Burnley, and Wolverhampton Wanderers also secured safe passage.

They will now be joined by England’s European representatives; Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa, Newcastle United, Nottingham Forest, and Crystal Palace who all enter the competition in round three.

EFL Cup Third-Round Draw

Port Vale v Arsenal

Swansea City v Nottingham Forest

Lincoln City v Chelsea

Tottenham Hotspur v Doncaster

Brentford v Aston Villa

Huddersfield Town v Manchester City

Liverpool v Southampton

Newcastle United v Bradford City

Sheffield Wednesday v Grimsby Town

Wolverhampton Wanderers v Everton

Crystal Palace v Millwall

Burnley v Cardiff City

Wrexham v Reading

Wigan Athletic v Wycombe Wanderers

Barnsley v Brighton

Fulham v Cambridge United

The third-round ties will be played between 15–22 September, slotted in between Premier League Matchweeks 4 and 5.