Geronimo Rulli's saved two penalties as Manchester City reached the quarter-finals of the EFL Cup after a 4-3 shoot-out win with Brighton following a 1-1 draw in normal time.
2026/2027 League Cup
2-2
Match Report
Mateo Kovacic cancelled out Malick Yalcouye's opener before City came back from behind again after Georginio Rutter had put the Seagulls back in front at the Etihad Stadium.
Vitor Reis ensured the tie would go to penalties, and Rulli proved to be City's hero in the shoot-out, saving spot-kicks from Yasin Ayari and Lewis Dunk to ensure the holders' progression.
Rayan Cherki was at the heart of City's early pressure, first testing Steele in the seventh minute before seeing his shot deflect off Yalcouye and over the Brighton crossbar.
But Fabian Hurzeler's side grew into the contest, with Rutter forcing stops out of Rulli, and there was nothing the City goalkeeper could do for the visitors' opener.
Slick play down the right-hand side saw Jack Hinshelwood collect possession inside the City box before finding Rutter, whose goal-bound effort was turned in from close range by Yalcouye.
However, City drew level five minutes before half-time through Kovacic. After appeals for a handball against Jaouen Hadjam were waved away, Phil Foden laid the ball off for the Croatian to bend a superb effort in off the left post.
Brighton did not let their heads drop, though, and retook the lead within 77 seconds of the restart when Hadjam's cutback was swept into the bottom-right corner by Rutter.
Rutter should have put Brighton further clear just before the hour. First, his curling strike was tipped onto the crossbar by Rulli, with the Frenchman then rounding City's goalkeeper moments later, but his shot from a tight angle rippled the side-netting.
And Brighton were made to pay in the 72nd minute by Reis, who inadvertently turned Cherki's powerful free-kick past the sprawling dive of Steele, with Mats Wieffer coming closest to a winner late on, only to strike the woodwork.
Both sides stayed perfect for their first three penalties until Kovacic was denied by Steele, but Ayari failed to make Brighton's advantage count as Rulli dived to his left to make the save.
Cherki stepped up and coolly slotted from 12 yards out, but Dunk could not repeat the trick to force sudden death, with Rulli guessing right to send City through.
Victory on penalties! @okx https://t.co/zfAd6GCKrk
— Manchester City (@ManCity) October 28, 2026
Cherki shines among Maresca's many changes
Enzo Maresca elected to make nine changes to the City side that was beaten by Aston Villa last weekend, with Marc Guehi and Cherki the only ones to keep their places.
And City were not at their free-flowing best in attack, only managing to muster an expected goals (xG) total of 0.87 from their 13 shots, three of which were on target, compared to Brighton's tally of 2.06 from their 17 attempts.
Nevertheless, Maresca's side were able to get the job done on spot-kicks. They have now won or progressed from their last eight EFL Cup matches, their joint-best ever winning run in the competition, becoming one of only seven teams to have done so.
It was no surprise to see Cherki pull the strings. He finished with team-high totals for shots (six), chances created (four) and passes in the final third (23), further proving why he is so pivotal.
Cherki will surely be set to feature again when Brighton head back to the Etihad Stadium in the Premier League this weekend.
Match Events
30' GOAL! Man City 0-1 Brighton (Malick Yalcouyé)
40' GOAL! Kovačic equalizes with a long-range shot! Man City 1-1 Brighton
Line-ups
Man City XI: Gerónimo Rulli, Kovacic, Foden, Guehi, Cherki, Lewis, Nico O'Reilly, Allan, Ayyoub Bouaddi, Vitor Reis, Floyd Samba
Subs: Bettinelli, Rayan Aït-Nouri, Iliman Ndiaye, Doku, Enzo, Abdukodir Khusanov, Kaden Braithwaite, Ryan McAidoo, Dexter Oliver
Brighton XI: Steele, Gross, Olivier Boscagli, Michael Svoboda, Costinha, Georginio Rutter, Yasin Ayari, Jaouen Hadjam, Diego Gómez, Jack Hinshelwood, Malick Yalcouyé
Subs: Dunk, Matt O'Riley, Maxim De Cuyper, Mats Wieffer, Bart Verbruggen, Promise David, Luka Vuskovic, Yankuba Minteh, Ibrahim Osman