Geronimo Rulli Saves Two Penalties as Manchester City Defeat Brighton

Geronimo Rulli stopped the final two penalties in a shootout to guide Manchester City past Brighton and into the League Cup quarterfinals. The backup goalkeeper denied Yasin Ayari and Lewis Dunk after Mateo Kovacic’s fourth penalty was saved by Brighton’s Jason Steele. The result keeps City’s title defense alive following a 2-2 draw in regulation.

The match unfolded as a back-and-forth affair at the Etihad Stadium. Brighton took an early lead in the 30th minute when Malick Yalcouye tapped in a rebound from Georginio Rutter’s shot. City responded 20 minutes later, with Kovacic curling a shot from 25 yards into the far corner. Rutter restored Brighton’s advantage just two minutes after the break, finishing a cut-back from Jaouen Hadjam. Rayan Cherki equalized in the 72nd minute via a deflection by Vitor Reis off a free kick.

Manager Enzo Maresca made nine changes to the starting lineup after Saturday’s loss to Aston Villa ended the club’s perfect start to the Premier League season. Haaland, Ruben Dias, Elliot Anderson, and Gianluigi Donnarumma were all rested for this fixture. The squad had previously been spared the early exit that befell Arsenal, who were eliminated by fourth-tier Fleetwood Town in a separate penalty shootout on Tuesday.

Other results on the night set the stage for the remaining quarterfinal matchups. Bournemouth extended their winning streak with a 3-0 victory over Aston Villa at the Vitality Stadium. The Cherries have now won three consecutive matches, including a 3-0 result against Manchester United in the Premier League. Crystal Palace secured a 1-0 win at Fulham, easing pressure on manager Pierre Sage. Sunderland also advanced with a 3-2 victory over Brentford.

The quarterfinal draw pairs City with third-tier Bradford City. Crystal Palace will host Sunderland. Fleetwood Town faces either Everton or Newcastle, depending on the outcome of Thursday’s match. Bournemouth is set to face Liverpool in the final tie. City and Brighton will meet again in the Premier League at the Etihad this coming Saturday.