Man United Humiliated By MK Dons In League Cup

Manchester United sank to new depths on Tuesday when they crashed out
of the League Cup in the second round following a 4-0 defeat at
third-division Milton Keynes Dons.

United had announced the signing of Angel di Maria from Real Madrid in
a British-record £59.7 million ($98 million, 75 million euros) deal
shortly before kick-off, but they were brought down to earth with a
painful bump as a second-string team fell apart at Stadium MK.

Will Grigg scored either side of half-time for the League One side
before Benik Afobe added a brace of his own to leave a shell-shocked
Louis van Gaal still searching for his first competitive win as United
manager.

United's defeat mirrored what had happened on their last appearance in
the second round in 1995, when they fell to third-tier York City, and
means a potential path to silverware has been shut off before the end
of August.

Van Gaal made 10 changes to his starting XI, with goalkeeper David de
Gea the only player to hold onto his place from Sunday's 1-1 draw at
Sunderland in the Premier League.

The visitors received an early setback when Shinji Kagawa had to go
off after a clash of heads and in the 25th minute they gifted their
hosts the lead.

Jonny Evans, United's captain for the day, passed the ball straight to
Ben Reeves inside his own area and the Dons number 10 squared to Grigg
for a simple tap-in.

The home side were aggrieved not to have been awarded a penalty early
in the second half when a shot from Dean Bowditch struck Evans on the
arm, but in the 63rd minute they added a second goal.

After United again conceded possession cheaply, Grigg sprayed a pass
wide to Reeves, who crossed for Grigg to beat De Gea with an
outrageous chested finish from 10 yards.

There was more misery to come for United, whose seventh-place finish
last season was their worst since 1990.

With 20 minutes remaining, Reeves displayed his disdain for the
visiting defence with a showy no-look through ball for substitute
Afobe, who held his nerve to sweep the ball past De Gea.

Belatedly, United rallied, with Adnan Januzaj hitting the post, but
with six minutes left Afobe charged through three weak challenges
before slamming home to complete a humiliating night for English
football's misfiring giants.