Geronimo Rulli's second appearance for Manchester City will take some forgetting. The Argentine goalkeeper kept out two Brighton penalties in a 4-3 shootout win that sent the Blues into the Carabao Cup quarter-finals after a 2-2 draw at the Etihad.
Enzo Maresca had made nine changes to his starting line-up, and the unfamiliarity showed early. Brighton went ahead on the half-hour mark when Georginio Rutter's low delivery was turned home by Malick Yalcouyé.
City responded ten minutes later. Phil Foden picked out Mateo Kovačić, whose low strike from outside the area went in off the post to send the sides in level at the break.
The visitors regained the lead almost immediately after half-time. Rutter finished from Jaouen Hadjam's pull-back, and City were chasing the game again.
The introduction of Jérémy Doku gave City greater attacking impetus, and the equaliser arrived in the 72nd minute. Vitor Reis got the decisive touch on Rayan Cherki's low free-kick for his first City goal.
Both sides had chances to win it in normal time. Mats Wieffer hit the woodwork, while Enzo Fernández narrowly missed Foden's cross. Then came the shootout.
Kovačić had City's fourth penalty saved by Jason Steele, but Rulli responded by denying Yasin Ayari. Cherki converted, and Rulli saved from Lewis Dunk to settle it.
Maresca singled out Rulli for praise afterwards — a rare bright spot on a night when City twice came from behind and needed penalties to see off Brighton.
City will now host League One side Bradford City in the last eight, with the tie scheduled for the week beginning 14 December.