Big-spending City dumped out by Seagulls on penalties
Gelson Fernandes among the goals for Manchester City
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Wednesday, 24, Sep 2008 10:53
Manchester City have been knocked out of the Carling Cup after losing 5-4 on penalties to Brighton and Hove Albion at the Withdean Stadium.
Brighton scored all five of their spot-kicks while Michael Ball had has penalty saved as City are eliminated at the second round stage.
The score was 2-2 after extra time with Gelson Fernandes and Stephen Ireland scoring for City, while Glenn Murray and Joe Anyinsah netted for the Seagulls.
The League One side made an impressive start and rattled the woodwork on eight minutes when Steven Thomson hit the inside of the woodwork from 12 yards.
Despite being second best for much of the game, City grabbed the lead on 64 minutes when Fernandes' shot took a deflection and flew into the net.
But Micky Adams' men snatched a dramatic equaliser on 89 minutes when Thomson forced his way into the box, with the ball falling for Murray to fire in the equaliser.
Mark Hughes' team were forced to go into extra time where they were again put under intense pressure with substitute Anyinsah heading inches wide in the opening minutes.
And their possession was rewarded in the 95th minute when Anyinsah, on loan from Preston North End, lashed in a shot past Kasper Schmeichel.
Although Anyinsah continued to cause problems for the City defence, the Premier League side weathered the storm to equalize 12 minutes from time when Ireland burst into the box to level.
In the resulting shootout, City trailed 4-3 when Ball had his penalty saved with Richards putting away the winning spot-kick to set-up a third round tie with Derby County.