Manchester City advanced to the Carabao Cup quarter-finals after overcoming Brighton & Hove Albion 4-3 in a penalty shootout following a 2-2 draw at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, with goalkeeper Gerónimo Rulli proving decisive with two saves during the shootout.
Rulli’s Shootout Heroics Decide Tightly Contested Tie
However, Manchester City responded each time through Mateo Kovacic, who equalized before the break, and Vitor Reis, whose goal in the 72nd minute forced the game to penalties.
Heading into the League Cup quarter-finals 🙌 Highlights from our penalty shoot-out win over Brighton 🍿 pic.twitter.com/uZmRlAucwM
— https://x.com/ManCity/status/2115598004384096528
Brighton & Hove Albion Starting XI had several absentees including Verbruggen, Costinha, Vušković, Dunk, Boscagli, Groß, Hinshelwood, Gómez, Ayari, De Cuyper, Kostoulas, Kaoru Mitoma, Femi Azeez, Evan Ferguson, and Stefanos Tzimas, with Ferdi Kadıoğlu and Pascal Struijk listed as doubts.
Maresca Rotates Squad, Rulli Earns Start
Five senior players – Erling Haaland, Elliot Anderson, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Joško Gvardiol, and Rúben Dias – were given three days off following the weekend’s loss to Aston Villa.
We will host Bradford City at the Etihad in the League Cup quarter-finals 🏆 pic.twitter.com/3wkFwXAm0j
— https://x.com/ManCity/status/2115572914586067029
Manchester City’s Mateo Kovačić scores in dramatic clash with Brighton: Since I’m here we never practised penalties,
said the City manager Enzo Maresca. It always happens that the one that scored in the 90 minutes [Kovacic] misses the penalty.
Cherki and Reis Impact the Game
Cherki’s free-kick led to Reis’s equalizing goal, while Doku’s presence added pace and directness to City’s attack.
City will now play League One Bradford in the quarter-finals. I watched all [Brighton’s] Premier League games and since the first day they always go front foot, man to man, so they’re going to be exactly the same on Saturday,
Maresca said.
Penalty Shootout Drama and Rulli’s Decisive Saves
The match ultimately came down to penalties, where Rulli emerged as the hero, saving efforts from Yasin Ayari and Lewis Dunk.
Progressing into the EFL Cup quarter-final 🙌🐈⬛ @SunderlandAFC overcome Brentford in five-goal thriller🦅 Eddie Nketiah earns @CPFC narrow victory over Fulham🧤 Geronimo Rulli the hero for @ManCity saving two penalties in their 4-3 shootout victory pic.twitter.com/K0gtBVboMU
— https://x.com/premierleague/status/2115562975906164942
City to Face Bradford in Quarter-Finals
The draw sets up a potentially comfortable tie for City as they continue their defense of the Carabao Cup.
Brighton’s Quick Return to the Etihad
Attendance at the Etihad was 55,345.
More on Carabao Cup
Lewis Dunk's penalty is saved by Gerónimo Rulli and Manchester City beat Brighton on penalties! 🧤 pic.twitter.com/P5LO5F8VoX
— https://x.com/SkyFootball/status/2115558784672178401
Rulli's two penalty saves send Man City past Brighton in Carabao Cup Manchester City beat Brighton and Hove Albion 4-3 on penalties on Wednesday night after a 2-2 draw to reach the Carabao Cup quarter-finals, PM News reports.City twice came from behind in the round-of-16 tie.… pic.twitter.com/zhf8eU0gIe
— https://x.com/viarifnote/status/2115572527913480567