League Cup,
Round of 16
Manchester City
MCI
Brighton
BRI
-
place
- Etihad Stadium
-
referee
- Andrew Madeley
Mateo Kovačić 40′
Vitor de Oliveira Nunes dos Reis 72′
Phil Foden 91′ (Pen)
Enzo Fernández 92′ (Pen)
Jeremy Doku 94′ (pen)
Mateo Kovačić 95′ (Pen)
Rayan Cherki 97′ (Pen)
Malick Yalcouyé 30′
Georginio Rutter 47′
Pascal Large 92′ (Pen)
Matt O’Riley 93′ (pen)
Maxim De Cuyper 94′ (Pen)
Age setting 96′ (pencil)
Lewis Dunk 97′ (Pen)
Holders Manchester City penalties necessary to avoid defeat Brighton in the last 16 of the Carabao Cup after a 2-2 draw in normal time at the Etihad.
The two sides played out an entertaining game in normal time as Brighton took the lead twice in the game, first through Malick Yalcouye before Mateo Kovacic equalized in the first half.
Barelt, second after the break, Georginio Rutter put the visitors back in front but his strike was canceled out by Vitor Reis in the 72nd minute after Rayan Cherki’s free-kick deflected off the defender.
The game was tied after 90 minutes and had to be decided on penalties, and after Kovacic and Ayari missed their sides’ fourth spot-kicks, Lewis Dunk missed the winner to give City victory and progress to the quarter-finals.
Match statistics
Yaklcouye and Kovacic in goal in the first half
Brighton started aggressively at the Etihad, pressing City high and forcing the hosts into a series of pointless passes. Rayan Cherki tried to spark City into life with a mazy run and shot, while Phil Foden later saw a dangerous low cross beg for the finishing touch.
City began to find their rhythm, with Cherki increasingly involved, but Brighton remained a threat from set-pieces and counter-attacks. The visitors created a couple of openings through Georginio Rutter and Pascal Gross, the latter firing just wide from the edge of the box.
The biggest talking point of the game at the time came 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 touch 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 in the game before cutting the ball back for Rutter, whose shot was played on by Yalcouye and past goalkeeper Rulli to put the visitors 1-0 up.
Man City equalized just before the break thanks to a rare goal from Kovacic. The midfielder clinically found the bottom corner with precision after collecting the ball from Phil Foden following another penalty shout earlier in the game.
City respond again to Brighton’s goal
The visitors started the second half with a bang, after a long period of possession finally finding its way to Hadjam who cut it expertly into the path of the onrushing Rutter.
Brighton threatened to extend their lead after the quick start, with Rutter forcing a superb fingertip save from Rulli before firing into the side netting after rounding the City keeper. Hinshelwood also squandered 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 run 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 entered the final 20 minutes.
But the Citizens finally equalised, with Cherki’s free kick deflected to his teammate Reis, who was credited 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 number of changes were made as both managers appeared to start preparing for the penalty shootout.
But a great chance for the Seagulls was called for at the end as Mads Wieffer found space at the back post from a corner but his effort bounced off the woodwork.
The city holds its nerve
The game headed to a penalty shoot-out, with the first three penalties buried from both sides in clinical style, before Kovacic went from hero to nil when Steele saved low to his left.
Rulli returned the favor though when Rullu made the save, before Cherki gave the City keeper the chance to win the game by stopping Dunk’s penalty, which is exactly what he did as City survived a scare to go on to defend their trophy.