Man City Set New Etihad Stadium Attendance Record in Brighton Cup Win

Man City Set New Etihad Stadium Attendance Record in Brighton Cup Win Enzo Maresca's side continued their strong form at the start of the Italian's reign at the club with progression into the last-eight of the League Cup, battling past an impressive showing from Fabian Hurzeler's Brighton & Hove Albion . Malick Yalcouye put the Seagulls into a deserved lead on the half-hour mark, before veteran midfielder Mateo Kovacic would bring the scoring level with just five minutes until the half-time interval. Making a double change at the start of the second-half, Brighton would respond immediately as Georginio Rutter regained the lead for the South Coast club on 47 minutes, and the Frenchman should have scored more than once before the game was up. That would prove not to be the case, however, and Vitor Reis would rather fortunately bring Manchester City level, as a Rayan Cherki free-kick would deflect off the Brazilian defender's heel and beyond Jason Steele. Geronimo Rulli would prove to be the hero in the following penalty shoot-out, though, as the Argentina international would deny Brighton twice to ensure a 4-3 victory for Manchester City and a place in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup. Now, following an eventful night of League Cup action, Manchester City have also  confirmed that their victory over Brighton & Hove Albion was played out in front of a new record attendance for any domestic cup game at the Etihad Stadium. The club confirmed on Thursday that a crowd of 55,343 were present at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday night to witness Enzo Maresca's side progress into the last-eight of the Carabao Cup - where League One side Bradford City now await. What are Man City's previous cup attendance records? Prior to the victory over Fabian Hurzeler's side, Manchester City's highest attendance at the Etihad Stadium in a domestic cup game came during an FA Cup third round encounter against Burnley in January 2018 when 53,356 were present. In the League Cup specifically, the previous Etihad Stadium record crowd was present for a fourth-round tie meeting with Liverpool in December 2022 - a crowd of 52,423 watching a 3-2 win. Such was the size of the audience in attendance for Wednesday night's game that City also point out that the crowd came close to bettering the club's biggest-ever attendance for a League Cup game, when 55,799 were present at Maine Road for a semi-final first leg against Manchester United in December, 1969. Who will Man City face in the Carabao Cup quarter-final? Following the completed draw on Wednesday night, Enzo Maresca and Manchester City have now found out they will face League One side Bradford City in the quarter-finals of the competition. That tie will take place in mid-December, following a Premier League home clash with Chelsea on December 12, and preceding another home meeting the weekend after as newly-promoted Hull City visit the Etihad Stadium on December 19.