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Manchester United suffered a humiliating exit from the EFL Cup after being eliminated in the first round by League Two side Grimsby Town.

The visitors tore United’s defense apart in the first half, racing to a two-goal lead. Andre Onana, under fire for inconsistent form, was beaten at his near post for the opening goal before failing to deal with a corner that led to Grimsby’s second.

United fought back strongly after the break. Substitute Bryan Mbeumo curled in a fine strike to reduce the deficit, and Harry Maguire equalized soon after. Despite waves of late pressure, the match was forced into a penalty shootout.

Onana briefly looked like the hero when he saved a Grimsby penalty, giving United a chance to win. But Matheus Cunha’s miss squandered the advantage. The shootout extended through the entire lineup, even to the goalkeepers. Both scored their first attempts, but when the order restarted, Mbeumo struck the crossbar, sealing Grimsby’s famous victory.

The shock defeat means Manchester United are already out of one of the three competitions they are contesting this season — a major setback for Ruben Amorim’s side just two weeks into the campaign.

Speaking after the game, Amorim refused to pin the blame on Onana alone:

“Goalkeeper problem? When you lose to a 4th division team, it’s not just the goalkeeper. It’s everything.”

For Onana, the defeat adds to growing questions over his form and confidence. Analysts point to the lack of an organized defensive unit, a problem that has haunted United for years. Former goalkeeper David De Gea faced similar struggles as repeated defensive frailties eroded confidence.

Unless United address deeper structural and psychological issues within the squad, the cycle of signing players, scapegoating them, and repeating the process may continue. For now, their EFL Cup dream is over — and Grimsby march on.