Rulli saves twice as Manchester City beat Brighton on penalties

Manchester City advanced to the Carabao Cup quarter-finals on Wednesday after Gerónimo Rulli saved twice in a 4-3 penalty shootout victory over Brighton at the Etihad Stadium. The teams had finished level at 2-2, with City recovering from a goal down in each half to keep their title defence alive, according to Associated Press reporting.

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Both managers had changed their teams substantially. City’s official live coverage recorded nine changes for Enzo Maresca’s side, with Marc Guéhi and Rayan Cherki retaining their starting places, while Brighton made seven. Phil Foden and Floyd Samba were among City’s starters, and Guéhi wore the captain’s armband. The attendance was 55,345, which the club said was a record for a domestic cup match at the Etihad.

Brighton went ahead after 30 minutes when Malick Yalcouyé converted Georginio Rutter’s delivery. City’s live commentary described the ball striking Rulli before going in. Mateo Kovačić equalised ten minutes later, finishing low from outside the penalty area after Foden supplied the pass. City therefore reached half-time level despite the visitors having created the early openings.

The balance shifted again almost immediately after the interval. Rutter finished Jaouen Hadjam’s cross in the 47th minute to restore Brighton’s advantage. Maresca had brought on Rayan Aït-Nouri and Ryan McAidoo at the break, but City still needed another response. Their official match report credited the subsequent introduction of Jérémy Doku with giving the attack renewed impetus.

Vitor Reis provided the second equaliser in the 72nd minute, redirecting Cherki’s free-kick for his first City goal. Foden had won the set piece with a run through the middle. Both teams then had opportunities to settle the tie before penalties: Mats Wieffer hit the woodwork for Brighton, while Enzo Fernández narrowly failed to reach a late Foden cross, City’s report said.

The shootout ultimately belonged to Rulli. Associated Press reported that the goalkeeper stopped Brighton’s last two attempts, taken by Yasin Ayari and Lewis Dunk, to secure City’s passage into the last eight. Brighton’s two leads had not been enough, and City emerged from another level scoreline with the decisive advantage from the spot.