Manchester City beat Brighton 4-3 on penalties after a 2-2 Carabao Cup draw at the Etihad. Goalkeeper Gerónimo Rulli saved from Yasin Ayari and Lewis Dunk after City twice came from behind through Mateo Kovačić and Vitor Reis, setting up a quarter-final with Bradford City.
Manchester, England: Gerónimo Rulli began the night as Manchester City’s back-up goalkeeper and ended it as the man who saved the tie. He stopped Yasin Ayari and Lewis Dunk in the shootout, the second of those saves putting City into the Carabao Cup quarter-finals after they had come from behind twice against Brighton at the Etihad Stadium.
A rotated City falls behind
Enzo Maresca made nine changes from the side beaten at Aston Villa, and Erling Haaland, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Rúben Dias, Elliot Anderson and Joško Gvardiol were not involved. Brighton also rotated, and the first half lacked intensity before the visitors found their rhythm. Rayan Cherki provided City’s early spark.
Brighton took the lead in the 30th minute. Malick Yalcouyé finished in the penalty area after Georginio Rutter helped create the chance, and Rulli, who got a touch, could not keep it out.
Kovačić levels, Rutter restores the lead
City answered ten minutes later. Phil Foden fed Mateo Kovačić, whose low strike from outside the box struck the post on its way in for 1-1 in the 40th minute. The reply did not last. Shortly after the restart, Rutter converted from a low ball by Jaouen Hadjam to put Brighton back in front, and Brighton held the advantage until Reis struck.
Reis levels from Cherki’s free-kick
The equaliser came in the 72nd minute. Cherki, who scored twice in City’s win at Selhurst Park, delivered a free-kick that Vitor Reis got on the end of to make it 2-2. Brighton still had a late chance, as Mats Wieffer came close in the closing minutes, but neither side found a winner before penalties.
Rulli decides it
Foden, Enzo Fernández, Jérémy Doku and Cherki scored for City, while Pascal Gross, Matt O’Riley and Maxim De Cuyper scored for Brighton. Kovačić’s kick was saved by Jason Steele, the only City miss, but Rulli answered twice, denying Ayari and then Dunk, and the Dunk save sent City through.
Bradford City and Brighton again
City were drawn against Bradford City in the last eight, with the quarter-finals scheduled for the week commencing 14 December. They also meet Brighton again at the Etihad in the Premier League on 31 October, only days after this tie. Elsewhere, Fleetwood Town reached the quarter-finals by beating Arsenal in a penalty shootout at Highbury.
Result: Manchester City 2-2 Brighton (City win 4-3 on penalties), Carabao Cup fourth round, Etihad Stadium, Wednesday 28 October 2026.
Goals: Yalcouyé 30’, Rutter (shortly after half-time) for Brighton; Kovačić 40’, Reis 72’ for City.
Shootout: City scored through Foden, Fernández, Doku and Cherki, with Kovačić saved by Steele. Brighton scored through Gross, O’Riley and De Cuyper, with Ayari and Dunk saved by Rulli.
Next: Manchester City v Bradford City, Carabao Cup quarter-final, week commencing 14 December.
