After Mateo Kovačić and Vitor Reis equalised to see the game finish 2-2 after 90 minutes, Gerónimo Rulli saved Brighton’s last two penalties to see us into the next round.
Malick Yalcouye put the visitors ahead in the first half before Kovačić levelled before the break, firing in a low shot from outside the box.
Brighton grabbed a second shortly after the restart through Georginio Rutter and a record Etihad Stadium domestic cup crowd of 55,345 urged us forward to get a second equaliser.
It came with just under 20 minutes remaining when Reis got his first City goal as he flicked in Rayan Cherki’s low free-kick before a dramatic 4-3 win on penalties with Rulli the hero.
THE MATCH IN BRIEF
City started with a young line-up that included four Academy players while midfielder Kovačić was six years older than any of his outfield team-mates.
And the Croatian showed his all his craft with a well-taken strike to fire City level after we’d fallen behind to Yalcouye’s opener on the half-hour.
Rayan Cherki, one of only two players with Marc Guéhi to keep their place from the weekend, had led the Blues charge early on.
Firstly, earning a dangerous free-kick after leading a break from his own half before teeing up Phil Foden’s whose low cross deserved a touch.
Brighton, who knocked out Manchester United in the previous round, had the first two efforts on target but they were easily collected by Gerónimo Rulli on his second City appearance.
Pascal Gross drove another low shot just wide before Georginio Rutter fired in a low cross that was turned in by Yalcouye, who appeared to be offside but was just the right side of City’s Ayyoub Bouaddi.
City were level 10 minutes later when good hold-up play from Floyd Samba allowed Phil Foden to pull the ball back to Kovačić whose 22-yard strike squeezed in off the post.
Marc Guéhi headed just wide and Allan had a shot from inside the box blocked as City went in chase of a half-time lead.
A double-change at the break saw Enzo Maresca rejig his team with Ryan McAidoo coming onto the wing and Rayan Aït-Nouri at left-back with Foden and O’Reilly moving into midfield and striker, respectively.
But before they could get acclimatised to their new positions, Brighton were ahead when Georginio turned in Jaouen Hadjam’s low cross.
The Brazilian then went close to a second with a long-range effort that Rulli flicked over the bar via a slight touch off the woodwork.
The introduction of Jérémy Doku gave City some attacking pep and Rico Lewis and Cherki were both off-target as we chased a second equailser.
And it was Reis who was the unlikely goalscorer as he flicked in Cherki’s free-kick, created by Foden’s bulldozing run through the centre of the pitch.
With the game end-to-end and both sides wanting to avoid a penalty shootout, Mats Wieffer almost snatched the win late on for the visitors but his far post effort hit the woodwork while Enzo Fernández was millimetres away from turning in Foden’s 94th minute cross.
PENALTY DRAMA
It was more than two years since our last penalty shootout when we beat Manchester United 7-6 in the Community Shield final.
Shooting towards the Pep Guardiola Stand, City looked confident with Foden, Fernández and Doku smashing in our first three spot-kicks.
So too did Brighton with Pascal Gross, Matthew O’Riley and Max De Cuyper dispatching theirs.
The Seagulls had the upper hand when Jason Steele stopped our fourth from Kovačić.
But up stepped Rulli. First diving full-length to keep out Yasin Ayari.
And after Cherki had fired in City fifth, Rulli did it again, denying Lewis Dunk and sending the ecstatic Blues into the fifth round.
TEAMS
CITY: Rulli, Lewis (Khusanov 76), Reis, Guéhi (C), O’Reilly (Fernández 87), Bouaddi (Aït-Nouri 46), Kovačić, Foden, Cherki, Allan (Doku 61), F. Samba (McAidoo 46).
Subs not used: Bettinelli, Ndiaye, Braithwaite, Oliver.
BRIGHTON: Steele, Costinha, Svoboda (Dunk 85), Boscagli, Hadjam, Gross (C), Gomez (De Cuyper 76), Ayari, Hinshelwood (Minteh 76), Yalcouye (Wieffer 81), Georginio (O’Riley 81).
Subs not used: Verbruggen, Promise, Osman, Vuskovic
STAR MAN
Rulli took his chance to be the City hero and keep up his chance of glory in his first season with the Club.
A penalty shootout and staring barrel of elimination following a miss from Kovačić, the Argentinian came to the fore.
Two excellent saves when they were needed most kept the current Carabao Cup holders in the tournament.
He also made a good save from Georginio during the 90 minutes, but his penalty saves made the biggest difference.
PLAYER REACTION
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ENZO REACTION
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WHAT IT MEANS
The fifth round draw will be made later tonight after the conclusion of the Liverpool v Chelsea game. The other seven remaining teams are Bournemouth or Aston Villa, Bradford City, Everton or Newcastle United, Fleetwood Town, Fulham or Crystal Palace, Liverpool or Chelsea and Sunderland or Brentford.
WHAT’S NEXT
It’s deja vu as Brighton return to the Etihad Stadium on Saturday 31 October.
This time it will be in the Premier League as first face third in a 15:00 (UK).
News about Man City v Brighton
City 2-2 Brighton (4-3p): Match stats and reaction
