It was a night to forget for Manchester United as they slumped to a humiliating defeat to Grimsby Town in the EFL Cup.
Following a 2-2 draw, Man United was left shellshocked after losing 12-11 in a penalty shootout that felt as if it went on for eternity.
While the team did well to claw their way back from a two-goal deficit, it was a perplexing performance by Ruben Amorim’s side, with his players struggling to seize control against far inferior opposition on paper.
Still, there were some standout players, with Bryan Mbeumo quickly coming to mind.
Producing some rare magic
Mbeumo didn’t face many physical challenges, winning his only ground duel and losing his sole aerial battle.
He did, however, prove to be highly effective in the midfield, completing 17 of 19 passes (89% accuracy).
His only long ball was accurate, as were both of his crosses.
The Cameroonian also completed an impressive six key passes, showing his promising playmaking ability.
Up top, he was certainly one of United’s most threatening forwards. Mbeumo got one shot on target, while his other two shots were blocked.
Most importantly, he scored United’s first goal of the game, completing an impressive run before bending his shot toward the far post, out of the keeper’s reach.
But while there was plenty of praise about Mbeumo’s performance, he wasn’t without his flaws, including one crucial mistake.
Mbeumo’s fatal error
Near the start of the penalty shootout, Mbeumo did well to score his spot kick in order to ensure United’s survival.
Sadly, when the time came for him to take his second penalty, he did not fare so well.
Despite sending the goalkeeper diving the wrong direction, Mbeumo’s shot reverberated off the crossbar, resulting in United’s defeat and early elimination from the EFL Cup.
Still, although this was a humiliating moment, it is important to acknowledge that Mbeumo was one of the few strong performers on the night, showing his ambition up front and his ability to be a game-changer at the most crucial times.
(Stats via Sofascore)
Featured image George Wood via Getty Images
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Mathew Cohen A faithful Manchester United supporter, Mathew has worked as a football writer and analyst for SB Nation, FanSided, and now The Peoples Person. Mathew’s heroes include David Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Sir Alex Ferguson, all of whom played their part in creating some special childhood memories.
