Geronimo Rulli the Manchester City hero in shoot-out win over Brighton

Manchester City’s back-up goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli saved two spot-kicks as the holders beat Brighton 4-3 on penalties to edge into the Carabao Cup quarter-finals.

The Argentinian denied Yasin Ayari and Lewis Dunk as City prevailed at the Etihad Stadium after twice coming from behind to draw 2-2 in a compelling tie between two much-changed sides.

Brighton had taken the lead through Malick Yalcouye after 30 minutes but Mateo Kovacic – who later missed a penalty in the shootout – levelled for City before the break.

The impressive Georginio Rutter put the visitors back in front and then hit the bar but City took the contest to penalties after Vitor Reis diverted in a Rayan Cherki free-kick.

Enzo Maresca had made nine changes to the City side beaten at Aston Villa, with Erling Haaland, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Ruben Dias, Elliot Anderson and Josko Gvardiol not involved at all after being given brief holidays.

Brighton also made seven changes for the first of two visits to the Etihad in four days, and the early stages lacked intensity.

One of the two City players retained, Cherki, provided the early spark, forcing Jason Steele into a save before firing a free-kick into the wall and seeing his follow-up deflected over.

Brighton grew into the game, with Rutter testing Rulli twice from distance. Ayari also shot tamely at Rulli before Pascal Gross fired wide.

The visitors took the lead when Jack Hinshelwood held the ball up for Rutter, whose powerful drive was diverted goalwards by Yalcouye. Rulli got a touch but could not keep it out.

City levelled after 40 minutes. Floyd Samba, leading the line in Haaland’s absence, drove into the area but was blocked by Jaouen Hadjam. Phil Foden played on despite a hint of handball and picked out Kovacic, who curled in a low shot off the post.

Brighton regained the lead soon after the restart as Rutter finished a slick move down the right, side-footing home from Hadjam’s cutback.

Rutter almost added another, with Rulli tipping his curling effort onto the bar, before the Frenchman rounded the keeper and shot into the side-netting.

City needed a response, and it came after Maresca replaced the ineffective Allan Elias with Jeremy Doku, with the Belgian’s arrival lifting the crowd.

Rico Lewis blazed over and a Cherki shot was deflected wide as City built momentum.

The equaliser came when Cherki’s 72nd-minute free-kick clipped Reis and beat Steele.

The tempo dropped late on but Brighton almost snatched victory when Mats Wieffer flicked against the post after Rulli failed to claim a corner. Lewis Dunk felt he was fouled but nothing was given.

Foden whipped a late free-kick into the area but nobody could finish, while substitute Yankuba Minteh curled over with the final touch of the 90 minutes on his first appearance of the season.

Both sides converted three successful penalties before Kovacic became the first to miss when Steele denied him.

Rulli responded to beat out Ayari’s effort and then repeated the feat from Dunk to send City through.