Geronimo Rulli saved two penalties as City survived a Carabao Cup scare to beat Brighton 4-3 in a shootout after a 2-2 draw at the Etihad.

Enzo Maresca made nine changes to his side and City twice came from behind, with Mateo Kovačić and Vitor Reis scoring before Rulli took centre stage in the shootout.

Rulli delivers as City battle through

Brighton went ahead after half an hour when Georginio Rutter’s low delivery was turned home by Malick Yalcouyé. City responded 10 minutes later as Phil Foden found Kovačić, whose low strike from outside the area went in off the post.

The visitors regained the lead almost immediately after half-time, Rutter finishing from Jaouen Hadjam’s pull-back. Brighton continued to threaten and forced Rulli into action, but the introduction of Jérémy Doku gave City greater attacking impetus.

Reis made it 2-2 in the 72nd minute, getting the decisive touch on Rayan Cherki’s low free-kick for his first City goal. Brighton came closest to finding a late winner when Mats Wieffer hit the woodwork, while Enzo Fernández narrowly missed Foden’s cross at the other end.

Kovačić then had City’s fourth penalty saved by Jason Steele, putting Brighton in control of the shootout. Rulli responded by denying Yasin Ayari before Cherki converted, leaving the Argentine to save from Lewis Dunk and secure City’s place in the quarter-finals.

It capped an impressive second appearance for Rulli, who was singled out for praise by Maresca afterwards. City will now host League One side Bradford City in the last eight, with the tie scheduled for the week beginning 14 December.

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Gary Gowers is a sports journalist and the editor of Read Everton, where he leads daily coverage of Everton news, transfers and analysis. He also writes about Manchester City for Read Man City and motorsport for Read Motorsport. A former accountant, he became a freelance writer in 2011 and has written for BBC Sport and Metro.