Man City reach Carabao Cup QF with penalty shootout win over Brighton
Synopsis
Manchester City needed two comeback goals and a Geronimo Rulli masterclass in the shootout to edge past Brighton 4-3 on penalties in the Carabao Cup fourth round. Now drawn at home to League One Bradford City in the quarter-finals, City are one step closer to a record-equalling 10th League Cup title.
Key Takeaways
Manchester City beat Brighton and Hove Albion 4-3 on penalties on 29 October 2026 to reach the Carabao Cup quarter-finals .
Brighton led twice — through Malick Yalcouye and Georginio Rutter — before City equalised each time.
Goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli saved two penalties in the shootout to seal City's passage.
City are drawn at home to Bradford City in the quarter-final, with the match set for the week of 14 December .
Victory in the competition would give City a record-equalling 10th League Cup , drawing level with Liverpool .
Bradford City have reached the Carabao Cup quarter-finals for the first time since 2012/13 , eliminating Rochdale, Burnley, Leyton Orient, and Peterborough United.
Manchester City survived a dramatic penalty shootout on 29 October 2026 to beat Brighton and Hove Albion 4-3 on penalties and advance to the Carabao Cup quarter-finals, with goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli saving two spot-kicks to send the holders through. The tie at the Etihad Stadium required City to claw back from two separate deficits before the shootout settled a pulsating fourth-round contest.
How the Match Unfolded
Malick Yalcouye opened the scoring for Brighton after 30 minutes, giving the visitors an early advantage. Mateo Kovacic responded with a long-range strike shortly before half-time to level proceedings, but Georginio Rutter restored Brighton's lead soon after the interval to make it 2-1 to the away side.
Brighton were on the verge of putting the tie to bed, only for Rulli to produce a stunning save to deny Rutter a second goal. City's relief proved short-lived until the 72nd minute, when Rayan Cherki's free-kick deflected in off the boot of Vitor Reis to make it 2-2 and send the match to a shootout.
Rulli the Shootout Hero
Rulli's performance proved decisive in the penalty shootout, as the City goalkeeper saved two Brighton spot-kicks to help his side prevail 4-3. It was the second time in the match that Rulli had been the difference between City advancing and an early cup exit, underlining his importance in the competition.
What This Means for City's Trophy Defence
City, who won the Carabao Cup at Wembley last March, are now in contention to claim the trophy for a record-equalling 10th time in the League Cup's history — which would draw them level with current record holders Liverpool. The defending champions had previously beaten Norwich City 5-0 in September to progress from an earlier round.
In the quarter-final draw, Manchester City have been paired at home against Bradford City, with the match scheduled for the week commencing 14 December.
Bradford City's Historic Run
Bradford City — nicknamed the Bantams — booked their quarter-final place by defeating Peterborough United, with goals from Macaulay Gillesphey and Adam Phillips sealing the win at Mbanq Valley Parade. Bradford have now eliminated Rochdale, Burnley, Leyton Orient, and Peterborough United to reach the last eight of the Carabao Cup for the first time since the 2012/13 season, setting up a daunting trip to the Etihad against the holders.
Point of View
But the match exposed real defensive vulnerabilities — being pegged back twice by Brighton is not the profile of a dominant cup holder. Rulli's heroics masked the structural problem: City's backline is porous enough for a mid-table Premier League side to score twice at the Etihad. The Bradford City quarter-final looks like a formality on paper, but this cup run is a data point in a broader conversation about whether Enzo Maresca has yet found the defensive solidity that Pep Guardiola built his cup runs on. The record-equalling 10th League Cup is a compelling narrative — but City will need to be far more convincing to get there.
NationPress
29 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Manchester City beat Brighton in the Carabao Cup?
Manchester City beat Brighton 4-3 on penalties after the match ended 2-2 following 90 minutes. City twice came from behind — equalising through Mateo Kovacic before half-time and then via a Rayan Cherki free-kick deflection in the 72nd minute — before goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli saved two spot-kicks in the shootout.
Who scored for Manchester City and Brighton in the fourth-round tie?
Brighton's goals were scored by Malick Yalcouye (30 minutes) and Georginio Rutter (shortly after half-time). Manchester City's equalisers came from Mateo Kovacic with a long-range strike and a Rayan Cherki free-kick that deflected in off Vitor Reis in the 72nd minute.
Who will Manchester City face in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals?
Manchester City have been drawn at home against Bradford City in the quarter-finals. The match is scheduled for the week commencing 14 December 2026.
What record could Manchester City equal by winning the Carabao Cup this season?
A 10th Carabao Cup (League Cup) title would draw Manchester City level with Liverpool as the most successful club in the competition's history. City won the trophy last season at Wembley.
How did Bradford City reach the Carabao Cup quarter-finals?
Bradford City reached the Carabao Cup quarter-finals for the first time since the 2012/13 season by beating Rochdale, Burnley, Leyton Orient, and Peterborough United. Goals from Macaulay Gillesphey and Adam Phillips sealed their fourth-round win over Peterborough at Mbanq Valley Parade.
