Manchester City booked their place in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals after beating Brighton 4-3 on penalties following a 2-2 draw at the Etihad Stadium.
The Seagulls took the lead twice through Malick Yalcouye and Georginio Rutter, but the home team fought back through Mateo Kovacic and Vitor Reis.
Goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli then played a key role in the penalty shootout, saving two Seagulls efforts to help City progress to the next round.
Brighton and Hove Albion started the match with confidence, pressing Manchester City and forcing the home side into mistakes.
Rayan Cherki tried to create opportunities for City, while Phil Foden also delivered a dangerous low cross that nobody could turn into a goal.
The visitors looked dangerous going forward, with Georginio Rutter causing problems for the City defence. Pascal Gross also came close but sent his effort narrowly wide from outside the penalty area.
The host appealed for a penalty after Rico Lewis went down inside the box following a challenge involving Yalcouye. However, referee Andrew Madley allowed play to continue.
The home side made their pressure count in the 30th minute. Rutter’s effort was touched by Yalcouyé and bobbled past goalkeeper Rulli to give the visitors a 1-0 lead.
Jack Hinshelwood helped create the opening with a pass across the box. Rutter was credited with the assist. City responded before half-time, with Kovacic bringing the teams level in the 40th minute.
The midfielder found space and fired a well-placed shot into the bottom corner after receiving the ball from Foden. The goal made it 1-1 and gave City hope of taking control of the contest before the break.
Brighton made a quick start to the second half and restored their lead in the 47th minute. Jaouen Hadjam delivered a low cross into the penalty area, where Rutter finished calmly to make it 2-1.
The goal put Manchester City under pressure as Brighton looked to protect their advantage. The visitors nearly extended their lead soon afterwards.
Rutter forced Rulli into an important save before getting around the goalkeeper and firing into the side-netting.
Hinshelwood also wasted a promising opportunity as Brighton continued to threaten on the counterattack.
The host needed a response, and manager Maresca turned to his bench to add more attacking energy. Doku’s introduction gave City greater speed and direct running in the final third.
However, the Seagulls continued to defend well and looked capable of holding on to their lead. City finally found their second goal in the 72nd minute.
Cherki delivered a free-kick that deflected off teammate Vitor Reis and entered the net. Reis was credited with the goal, bringing the score to 2-2.
The visitors thought they had scored again when Maxim De Cuyper found the net with a lob, but the goal was ruled out. The visitors also missed a huge opportunity late in the match.
Mats Wieffer found space at the far post following a corner, but his effort struck the woodwork. Neither side could find a winner, sending the match into a penalty shootout.
Both teams scored their first three penalties, with Phil Foden, Enzo Fernandez and Doku converting for Manchester City.
Groß, Matthew O’Riley and De Cuyper scored for Brighton. Kovacic then missed City’s fourth penalty, giving Brighton a chance to take control.
However, Rulli saved Yasin Ayari’s effort to keep the shootout level. Cherki converted City’s fifth penalty, putting pressure on Brighton captain Lewis Dunk.
Rulli produced another important save to deny Dunk and seal a 4-3 shootout victory for Manchester City against Brighton and Hove Albion.
The match also featured several bookings, with Michael Svoboda, Ayyoub Bouaddi, Mats Wieffer and Dunk among the players shown yellow cards during the contest.
City enjoyed 57 per cent possession and recorded 13 shots, while Brighton managed 17 attempts. The visitors also had more corners, with seven compared to City’s three.
Despite the Seagulls creating more shooting opportunities, City showed greater composure when it mattered in the penalty shootout.
The victory keeps City’s Carabao Cup defence alive after a difficult contest against Brighton. They showed determination by coming from behind twice, while Rulli’s penalty saves proved decisive.
The London club will be disappointed after twice taking the lead and coming close to winning the match in normal time.
Manchester City can now look forward to the quarter-final draw, while both teams will turn their attention to their upcoming Premier League meeting at the Etihad Stadium.
