Sports
Grimsby Humiliate Man Utd joins ranks of biggest cup upsets
Manchester United suffered a shock early EFL Cup exit on penalties to League Two side Grimsby Town – a result that will be remembered for years to come.
United were beaten 12-11 on spot-kicks, having clawed their way back from 2-0 behind with 15 minutes to go to scrape a 2-2 draw.
It was not the first time United had suffered a notable upset in domestic cup action, either. Remember York City’s 3-0 win at Old Trafford 30 years ago?
After Grimsby’s surprise victory, BBC Sport looks at 10 of the biggest upsets in the FA Cup and EFL Cup.
This isn’t an exhaustive list, and you can leave your thoughts in the comments as well as ranking the 10 upsets and sharing your results.
An upset as astonishing for its manner as it was for its proportions. Grimsby Town, a League Two side, beat top-flight Manchester United.
Not only did they win, but they were 2-0 up after 30 minutes following goals from Charles Vernam and Tyrell Warren.
The visitors pulled one back through Bryan Mbeumo with 15 minutes to go and United looked like they might squeeze through when Harry Maguire went on to level in the 89th minute.
It went to penalties and what ensued was an incredible shootout, with Clarke Oduor for Grimsby and Matheus Cunha for Manchester United missing the only penalties as each side’s 11 took one.
The players then went again and, after Darragh Burns scored to make it 12-11, Mbeumo struck his second spot-kick against the crossbar.
Sports
FCT FA Board Member Urges Grassroots Reform, Hopeful For Super Eagles World Cup Qualification
Legal Practitioner And Administrator Barr Bucknor Threatens To Petition FCT Minister Over Abandoned Stadiums
Despite Nigeria’s precarious position in the race for a spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Barrister Babatunde Burknor, a board member of the FCT Football Association (FA), remains hopeful that the Super Eagles can still secure qualification.
Nigeria currently sits third in their qualification group with 11 points from 8 matches, trailing Benin Republic and South Africa, who both lead with 14 points. Yet Burknor, a seasoned football administrator and grassroots sports advocate, believes all is not lost.
In a recent interview made available to BSN Sports, Burknor said: “Nigeria’s qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup may appear almost impossible, but that doesn’t mean it is out of reach. The situation is tough, yes, but looking at the quality of players in our squad, I still believe we can make it.”
He added that unexpected results from other group rivals could work in Nigeria’s favour.
“Football is unpredictable. There is still a chance that South Africa, Benin Republic, or Rwanda could drop points. If we win our remaining two games, we still stand a chance. Sometimes football reflects life where the strong may fall while the seemingly weak stand tall.”
Calls for Grassroots Reform in the FCT
Beyond national team concerns, Burknor also used the opportunity to address the state of sports development in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), urging the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to take concrete action to revamp local infrastructure.
“We have deep-rooted problems when it comes to grassroots sports. The major issue is a lack of funding and commitment from those charged with driving development at that level,” he said.
Burknor lamented the disappearance of once-thriving youth competitions like the Chairman’s Cup, Principal’s Cup, and Shell Cup, stating that such events played a crucial role in identifying and nurturing young talent.
“It’s disheartening that these programs are no longer active. Development is impossible without facilities, yet we lack even basic training grounds.”
The legal luminary revealed that he personally upgraded the sports facility at a government secondary school in his area to serve as a makeshift training centre, due to the absence of a functioning local stadium.
He is currently drafting a petition to Minister Wike, over abandoned stadiums in FCT, urging a comprehensive audit of officials responsible for sports development across the six Area Councils of the FCT.
Progress in Gwagwalada Football Development
As Vice Chairman of the Gwagwalada Football Council, Burknor highlighted the success of the Gwagwalada Football League, which has become a model for other Area Councils.
“In just two years, we’ve turned the Gwagwalada Football League into a success story. Several players from the league have already secured contracts in Europe. This shows what can be achieved with vision and consistency.”
Barrister Burknor, emphasized that grassroots football holds the key to Nigeria’s long-term football success and must be taken seriously.
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