"I still can't believe it," Pym exclaimed after the match at Blundell Park. "I'm a huge Man Utd fan, so it's bittersweet. But, nights like these are why we play the game. It's absolutely amazing."
Despite being the underdogs, Grimsby played the game of their lives, pulling off a shocking victory. The home side took a 2-0 lead in the first half thanks to Charles Vernam's angled shot and Tyrell Warren's close-range finish. Man Utd managed to level the score at 2-2 in the second half with goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Harry Maguire.
The penalty shootout, lasting 18 minutes and featuring 26 shots, saw Onana save Clarke Oduor's attempt, while Pym denied Matheus Cunha. The decisive moment came in the 13th round when Mbeumo hit the crossbar, securing a 12-11 win for Grimsby.
Pym was pleased with his performance but admitted he could have done better in the shootout. "I should have done better, but I made one important save to keep us in it. The rest was down to the lads. It's just unbelievable," he added.
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Christy Pym (left) celebrates with fans after the match. Photo: Reuters |
Christy Pym (left) celebrates with fans after the match. Photo: Reuters
Vernam, who scored the opening goal, admitted to extreme tension during the penalty shootout. "When it keeps going back and forth, you just don't know what's going to happen," he said. "But we always believed we had a chance, and it paid off. It's a feeling I'll never forget."
The forward revealed that their belief in victory was instilled before the match by manager David Artell. "He told us we weren't just here to make up the numbers," Vernam explained. "If we played with the right intensity, we always had a chance. And why not us? It's amazing that we did it, and now it's time to enjoy it."
Concluding the memorable evening, manager David Artell hailed the victory over Man Utd as the culmination of 15-18 months of hard work. He stated, "It's been a process, technically and mentally. We work every day to get better, and tonight's win is the result of that period."
Grimsby Town currently sits 4th in the EFL League Two, three divisions below Man Utd. According to Opta's club power rankings, Grimsby is ranked 1,304th globally, lower than Nam Dinh (996th), Cong An Ha Noi (1,018th), and Ha Noi FC (1,268th), while Man Utd sits at 28th.
Hong Duy (via ESPN)
