League Cup,
Round of 16
Manchester City
MCI
Brighton
BRI
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Venue
- Etihad Stadium
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Referee
- Andrew Madley
Holders Manchester City needed penalties to avoid defeat to Brighton in the Carabao Cup last 16 after a 2-2 in normal time at the Etihad.
The two sides played out an entertaining game in normal time as Brighton twice went ahead in the game, firstly through Malick Yalcouye before Mateo Kovacic equalised in the first half.
Barelt second after the break, Georginio Rutter put the visitors back in front but his finish was was cancelled out by Vitor Reis in the 72nd minute after Rayan Cherki’s free-kick deflected in off the defender.
The game finished level after 90 minutes and had to be decided by penalties, and after both Kovacic and Ayari missed their sides’ fourth kicks, Lewis Dunk missed the decisive kick to hand City the victory and progression to the quarter-finals.
Match Statistics
Yaklcouye and Kovacic on target in first half
Brighton started aggressively at the Etihad, pressing City high and forcing the hosts into a series of wasteful passes. Rayan Cherki tried to spark City into life with a mazy run and shot, while Phil Foden later saw a dangerous low cross go begging for a finishing touch.
City began to find their rhythm, with Cherki increasingly involved, but Brighton remained a threat from set-pieces and on the counter. The visitors created a couple of openings through Georginio Rutter and Pascal Gross, the latter firing narrowly wide from the edge of the box.
The game’s biggest talking point at that point arrived in the 24th minute when Rico Lewis went down under a challenge from Yalcouye inside the penalty area. City appealed for a spot-kick, but referee Andy Madley waved away the protests, with replays later suggesting the Brighton midfielder had failed to get a touch on the ball.
Brighton made City pay just six minutes later, taking the lead through Yalcouye, the man heavily involved in the penalty incident. Jack Hinshelwood stayed onside before cutting the ball back for Rutter, whose shot was touched by Yalcouye and bobbled past goalkeeper Rulli to put the visitors 1-0 ahead.
Man City drew level just before half-time through a rare goal from Kovacic. The midfielder clinically found the bottom corner with precision after picking up the ball from Phil Foden after another penalty shout earlier in the move.
City respond to Brighton goal again
The visitors made a lightning start to the second half, after a long spell of possession eventually found it’s way to Hadjam, who expertly cut it back into the path of Rutter who slotted in.
Brighton threatened to extend their lead after the fast start, with Rutter forcing a superb fingertip save from Rulli before firing into the side-netting after rounding the City goalkeeper. Hinshelwood also wasted a promising opening as the visitors looked the more dangerous side.
City introduced Jeremny Doku in a bid to spark a response, and his direct running brought renewed energy, but Brighton continued to threaten on the counter. Cherki teed up Lewis for a wild effort over the bar as City struggled to find a way through as we reached the final 20 minutes.
But the equaliser did finally come for the Citizens, with Cherki’s free-kick deflecting in off team-mate Reis, who was accredited with the goal.
Maxim De Cuyper had the ball in the back of the net with a lob but the ball was ruled out, and with five minutes to play, a raft of changes were made as it looked like both coaches were beginning to prepare for a penalty shootout.
But a huge chance for the Seagulls did go begging at the end as Mads Wieffer found space at the back post from a corner but his effort bounced off the woodwork.
City hold their nerve
The game headed to a shootout, with the first three penalties buried from both sides in clinical style, before Kovacic went from hero to zero as Steele saved low to his left.
Rulli returned the favour though as Rullu made the save, before Cherki gave the City goalkeeper the chance to win the game by stopping Dunk’s penalty, which is exactly what he did as City survived a scare to continue the defence of their trophy.
Manchester City upcoming fixtures
Upcoming Fixtures : Manchester City
-
Premier League
Manchester City
MCI
15:00 2026-10-31
Brighton
BRI
-
UEFA Champions League
RB Leipzig
LEI
20:00 2026-11-04
Manchester City
MCI
-
Premier League
Nottingham Forest
NOT
15:00 2026-11-07
Manchester City
MCI
-
Premier League
Manchester City
MCI
15:00 2026-11-21
Fulham
FUL
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UEFA Champions League
Manchester City
MCI
20:00 2026-11-24
Napoli
NAP
Brighton upcoming fixtures
Upcoming Fixtures : Brighton
-
Premier League
Manchester City
MCI
15:00 2026-10-31
Brighton
BRI
-
UEFA Europa Conference League
Getafe
GET
20:00 2026-11-05
Brighton
BRI
-
Premier League
Brighton
BRI
15:00 2026-11-07
Brentford
BRE
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Premier League
Hull City
HUL
15:00 2026-11-21
Brighton
BRI
-
UEFA Europa Conference League
Brighton
BRI
17:45 2026-11-26
Universitatea Craiova
UNI
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