Manchester City defeated Brighton in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup to advance to the quarter-finals. The match was held on the 28th at the Carabao Cup venue, with both teams drawing attention as powerhouses who are ranked first and third in the Premier League, respectively. In the end, City won 4-3 on penalties and progressed to the next stage of the tournament.
The match was a fierce battle from the first half. Brighton maintained their lead in the 30th minute when Brighton's Malick Yarkue opened the scoring after receiving a cross from Georginio Lutaire. City's Mateo Kovacic equalized in the 40th minute with a shot from mid-range, and the game was back to 1-1 at the half. Both sides continued to score in the second half, with Lutaire putting Brighton back in the lead in the 47th minute after returning from Jaouen Hajam. City's Vitor Reis scored from a direct free kick in the 72nd minute, and the game was level again.
The score remained 2-2 after 90 minutes of play, sending the game to penalties. The fourth kicker of both teams made a save by the goalkeeper, and consecutive saves by the fifth kicker, Luis Dunk and Geronimo Luzi, decided the match. In the end, City won 4-3 and advanced to the Carabao Cup quarter-finals.
With this victory, Manchester City will be able to maintain their momentum in the domestic cup competition while also focusing on maintaining their lead in the Premier League. Although Brighton unfortunately lost, they showed a high level of play throughout the match, taking the lead in the first half and catching up in the second half. In the quarterfinals, both teams will be making tactical adjustments and managing the condition of their players in preparation for their next opponents.