Manchester City advanced to the Carabao Cup quarter-finals on Wednesday night after beating Brighton 4-3 on penalties, following a 2-2 draw in a fourth-round tie that swung back and forth until the final kick of the shootout.
City held their nerve from the spot to edge a Brighton side that had matched them throughout normal time, with the Seagulls pushing the Premier League champions all the way in a thrilling cup encounter.
Another shootout on a night of drama
The tie was one of two fourth-round matches on Wednesday decided by penalties, with Liverpool also needing a shootout to see off Chelsea at Anfield. For City, the win keeps their pursuit of another domestic trophy alive and extends their record of navigating tricky cup ties under pressure.
Brighton will take pride from their performance, having gone toe-to-toe with one of Europe’s strongest squads, but the shootout defeat means their League Cup run ends at the fourth-round stage despite a display full of character.
City’s cup pedigree shows
Cup ties like this are won on composure as much as quality, and City’s experience from twelve yards proved decisive. The result also gives Pep Guardiola’s squad another midweek test passed, with the quarter-finals now offering a realistic route to Wembley in the new year.
For Brighton, attention returns to the Premier League, where they face Manchester City again at the Etihad on Saturday — a swift rematch that gives the Seagulls an immediate chance to avenge their cup exit.
