Grimsby goalkeeper Christy Pym joked he was "half-fuming" after his side knocked Manchester United out of the Carabao Cup by winning an epic penalty shootout 12-11.
United forward Bryan Mbeumo struck the crossbar with his second spot-kick in an 18-minute shootout to seal the Mariners’ a famous victory after the second-round tie ended 2-2 after 90 minutes at a breathless Blundell Park.
Pym revealed he was a United fan, saying: “It’s not sunk in yet. I’m a Man Utd fan, so I’m half-fuming a little bit. Night’s like this is what you pay football for.
“I should have done a little bit better (in the shoot-out), shouldn’t I? I made one save to keep us in it and the boys have done the rest. It’s brilliant.”
Grimsby goalscorer Charles Vernam, who fired his side into a first-half lead, admitted his nerves almost got the better of him during the shootout.
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He told Sky Sports : “It was a nervy wait. When it just kept going on and on, you just never know. We scored and thought ‘right we have a chance’ and then they kept scoring.
“It’s an amazing feeling, one that will live with us forever. The message all week has been about belief and knowing how good we are and the gaffer’s instilled that.
“He told us not to just turn up, there’s always a chance if we play the right way with the right intensity. Why can’t it be us? So to pull that off is an amazing feeling and we’re going to enjoy the moment.”
This was the Old Trafford outfit’s first game in the second round of the competition since 2014, when Louis van Gaal’s side were embarrassed 4-0 at League One side MK Dons.
United suffered even greater humiliation on Wednesday at a bouncing Blundell Park, where Charles Vernam scored before Red Devils youth product Tyrell Warren capitalised on goalkeeper Andre Onana’s latest error.
Grimsby had chances to pull further ahead in the second half, only for substitute Mbeumo to pull one back and Harry Maguire ’s latest last-gasp goal to snatch a 2-2 draw and take the match to penalties.
Onana saved new signing Clarke Oduor’s spot-kick and Matheus Cunha blew the chance to win it for the visitors, with the goals continuing until Mbeumo thumped his effort off the crossbar as fans poured onto the pitch. This night will live long in the memory, and leave lasting scars on rebuilding United.
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