Stand-in goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli turned out the hero by saving two penalties as holders Manchester City leapt past Brighton in a shootout after a 2-2 stalemate to qualify for the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup.
Rulli kept out the final two spot kicks from Yasin Ayari and Lewis Dunk to send City through to face League One side Bradford City in the last eight.
Brighton stunned the home crowd by going ahead on the half hour mark through Malick Yalcouye’s finish from close range, the midfielder converting from Georginio Rutter’s cross.
But five minutes before half-time, City drew level courtesy of Mateo Kovacic’s strike from long range which flew past the reach of Jason Steele and nestled in the bottom corner.
Just seconds after the restart, Fabian Hurzeler’s side retook the lead following Rutter’s fine first-time finish from Jaouen Hadjam’s clever cutback.
Brighton could have extended their lead further but Rulli made a stunning fingertip save to deny Rutter a second, while the Frenchman also hit the side-netting after going round the City goalkeeper.
Rayan Cherki saw an effort deflect narrowly wide as City looked to claw their way back into the tie, before his low free-kick was flicked into the net by Vitor Reis’ outstretched foot.
Substitute Mats Wieffer struck the post late in the second half for Brighton but the match went to penalties before Rulli’s heroics sent City through.
The only previous League Cup meeting came between the two sides came on 24 September 2008, 23 days after City’s takeover by the Abu Dhabi Football Group.
On that night, Brighton – then a League One outfit – shocked a top-flight City side containing the likes of Kasper Schmeichel, Vincent Kompany and Daniel Sturridge on penalties to reach the next round.
It looked like being a repeat success on this occasion but Rulli spoiled Brighton’s latest trip to the north – the Seagulls had dumped out Manchester United across the city in the previous round.
In the first half, Diego Gomez and Rutter had shots from range in quick succession, both of which went straight into the grasp of Rulli, before Yalcouye struck from close range.
Before that, Cherki had been the liveliest player, going on a weaving run before scuffing a shot straight at Steele, while a free-kick from the edge of the box failed to clear the wall.
And the Frenchman proved to be protagonist as the match wore by helping his side through.
