Manchester City eliminated Brighton from the English League Cup after winning a penalty shootout 4-3 following a 2-2 draw at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday, despite decisive contributions from Malick Yalcouyé and Jaouen Hadjam for the visitors.
Brighton took the lead twice during the last-16 encounter, with Yalcouyé opening the scoring in the first half and Hadjam setting up Georginio Rutter for a second goal shortly after the break. However, City fought back on both occasions before securing qualification through penalties.
The result ended Brighton’s run in the competition despite an impressive attacking display from the two players, whose involvement helped put the visitors in a strong position against their opponents.
Yalcouyé gave Brighton the advantage in the 30th minute, reacting quickly inside the penalty area to turn in a delivery from Rutter from close range.
The goal rewarded the midfielder’s positioning and gave Brighton an opportunity to put pressure on the home side. The 20-year-old continued until the 81st minute, when he was replaced by Mats Wieffer.
Yalcouyé joined Brighton in 2024 after developing at ASEC Mimosas. Since arriving in England, he has gained experience through loan spells with Sturm Graz and Swansea, continuing his development at senior level.
His goal against City was another important moment in that progression, although it ultimately proved insufficient to help Brighton advance to the quarter-finals.
Hadjam creates Brighton’s second goal
Manchester City responded to Brighton’s opening strike in the 40th minute, when Mateo Kovačić converted a pass from Phil Foden to make it 1-1.
Brighton nevertheless regained their lead soon after the interval. In the 47th minute, Algeria international Hadjam produced a cutback that allowed Rutter to control the ball and finish, putting the visitors ahead for a second time.
The assist highlighted Hadjam’s attacking contribution during the match and continued a promising period for the defender in English football.
He had previously scored his first Premier League goal against Sunderland on 10 October, and his involvement in Brighton’s second goal at the Etihad added another notable moment to his recent performances.
With Brighton once again in front, City faced the task of finding another equaliser to keep their League Cup campaign alive.
The visitors held their advantage into the second half, but Manchester City eventually drew level in the 72nd minute. Vitor Reis scored after receiving the ball from Rayan Cherki, bringing the contest to 2-2.
Neither side managed to secure a decisive goal before the match moved to a penalty shootout, leaving qualification to be decided from the spot.
Aït-Nouri features as City progress
Manchester City also made a change at half-time, with Ayyoub Bouaddi making way for Algeria defender Rayan Aït-Nouri.
The substitution gave Aït-Nouri an opportunity to gain match fitness after limited involvement since the beginning of the season. Before the League Cup encounter, he had yet to make an appearance in the Premier League.
City ultimately completed their recovery by winning the shootout 4-3, securing their place in the quarter-finals and ending Brighton’s hopes of progressing.
For Brighton, the defeat was particularly disappointing given that they had twice moved ahead during normal time. Yalcouyé’s first-half goal and Hadjam’s assist for Rutter had put the Seagulls in promising positions, but City found a response each time.
The visitors’ attacking contributions were therefore overshadowed by the outcome of the shootout, which settled a closely contested tie after both teams had scored twice.
Manchester City advanced to the next round, while Yalcouyé and Hadjam were left to reflect on performances that helped Brighton challenge their opponents but could not prevent elimination.
Despite the result, the match offered further evidence of the pair’s ability to influence Brighton’s attacking play, with one scoring and the other providing an assist against a City side that eventually found a way through to the quarter-finals.
