Match ends, Manchester City 0(4), Wolverhampton Wanderers 0(1).
Claudio Bravo was Manchester City's hero as they beat Wolves on penalties to reach the Carabao Cup quarter-finals.
Bravo, who made three key saves against the Championship leaders in normal time, continued his heroics to deny Alfred N'Diaye and Conor Coady in the shootout after the game finished goalless.
City scored all four of their spot-kicks, with Sergio Aguero coolly sealing their victory with a Panenka penalty.
Defeat was harsh on a Wolves side who had become the first team to stop the Premier League pacesetters from scoring this season.
Roared on by more than 6,000 travelling fans, the visitors had not only frustrated City for long periods, they created the best chances in open play too.
But the much-maligned Bravo came to his side's rescue on three occasions in one-on-one situations, denying Helder Costa in between two saves from Bright Enobakhare.
"Last season was not easy for Bravo, but he is a goalkeeper of a high level. He deserved that performance," said City boss Pep Guardiola.
Not Aguero's night - until the end
After equalling Eric Brook's club record of 177 goals with his penalty against Burnley on Saturday, the stage appeared set for Aguero to take the record outright when he was named in Guardiola's starting line-up and made skipper for the night too.
It was not to be. Aguero peppered Will Norris' goal with shots in the first half but was mostly off target and his finishing did not get any better after the break.
Norris gifted the Argentina striker a golden opportunity to score with a weak clearance early in the second half, but then redeemed himself by diving at his feet to save as Aguero tried to take the ball around him.
It was not Aguero's night in terms of his attempt to break the record, but he still had the final word with his penalty in the shootout that sent City through.
"Sooner or later Aguero is going to score," added Guardiola afterwards. "Relax, he is going to break the record. The situation is going to happen."
Guardiola also suggested that Aguero would have scored but for the ball used during the game.
"The ball was a different ball," added the Spaniard. "If we played with a different ball he would break the record. To score with that ball is a miracle. It is impossible.
"The ball is not acceptable to play with at this level. It is not a serious ball for a professional game. I can say that after we win. If we don't win and I say that it is an excuse.
"We get one day or two days [to use it in training] but if a ball is bad it is bad two days, one week, one month, one year, two years. If it is bad, it is bad."
Wolves the first team to shut out City
Wolves, who are two points clear at the top of the Championship table, have impressed with their own brand of free-flowing passing football, but much of their success has been built from the back.
Before arriving at Etihad Stadium, Nuno Espirito Santo's side had conceded only 13 goals in 16 games this season and they demonstrated why with a brilliantly organised defensive display.
The default position for Wolves on a wet night in Manchester was to have all their players in their own half and behind the ball but, when they broke forward, they did so with menace.
Despite City's dominance, Wolves had the best chance of the first half when Enobakhare barged Eliaquim Mangala off the ball and made for goal, only to see Bravo save his shot with his legs.
Bravo had to rush from his line again to deny Costa after the break but made his best save in injury time at the end of the 90 minutes, when Enobakhare galloped clear but again failed to beat him.
"I am proud of the team and proud of the fans," said Nuno. "There were 6,200 singing and shouting for Wolves all night long.
"The boys worked so hard and stuck to the plan. We had chances to win the game and came into it more in the second half."
The win could yet prove costly for City.
Midfielder Ilkay Gundogan completed the 120 minutes but Guardiola revealed afterwards the German had "finished with some problems".
"I don't know how serious - we'll see tomorrow," he added.
Gundogan, 27, only returned to action last month after tearing cruciate knee ligaments last December.
What next?
City are at West Bromwich Albion on Saturday (15:00 BST) looking to maintain their impressive start to the Premier League season. Wolves are also on the road in the Championship, playing QPR at Loftus Road at the same time on the same day.
Line-ups
Man City
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Bravo
- 3DaniloSubstituted forWalkerat 103'minutes
- 24TosinSubstituted forStonesat 90'minutes
- 15Mangala
- 35Zinchenko
- 8Gündogan
- 42Y TouréBooked at 93mins
- 7Sterling
- 20Bernardo SilvaSubstituted forSanéat 95'minutes
- 33Gabriel JesusSubstituted forDe Bruyneat 82'minutes
- 10Agüero
Substitutes
- 2Walker
- 5Stones
- 17De Bruyne
- 18Delph
- 19Sané
- 31Ederson
- 43Nmecha
Wolves
Formation 3-4-3
- 31Norris
- 6Batth
- 16Coady
- 30Hause
- 5BennettBooked at 84mins
- 19PriceBooked at 82mins
- 4A N'Diaye
- 29Vinagre
- 12MarshallSubstituted forRonanat 73'minutes
- 26EnobakhareSubstituted forBonatiniat 90'minutes
- 17Hélder CostaSubstituted forCavaleiroat 79'minutes
Substitutes
- 2Doherty
- 7Cavaleiro
- 13Burgoyne
- 20Ronan
- 25Miranda
- 32Deslandes
- 33Bonatini
- Referee:
- Kevin Friend
- Attendance:
- 50,755
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home73%
- Away27%
- Shots
- Home29
- Away7
- Shots on Target
- Home6
- Away5
- Corners
- Home10
- Away4
- Fouls
- Home7
- Away8
Live Text
Post update
Penalties over
Penalty Shootout ends, Manchester City 0(4), Wolverhampton Wanderers 0(1).
Goal!
Goal! Manchester City 0(4), Wolverhampton Wanderers 0(1). Sergio Agüero (Manchester City) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the top right corner.
Goal!
Goal! Manchester City 0(3), Wolverhampton Wanderers 0(1). Leroy Sané (Manchester City) converts the penalty with a left footed shot to the top left corner.
Post update
Penalty saved! Conor Coady (Wolverhampton Wanderers) fails to capitalise on this great opportunity, right footed shot saved in the bottom right corner.
Post update
Penalty saved! Alfred N'Diaye (Wolverhampton Wanderers) fails to capitalise on this great opportunity, right footed shot saved in the bottom left corner.
Goal!
Goal! Manchester City 0(2), Wolverhampton Wanderers 0(1). Yaya Touré (Manchester City) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the top left corner.
Goal!
Goal! Manchester City 0(1), Wolverhampton Wanderers 0(1). Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner.
Goal!
Goal! Manchester City 0, Wolverhampton Wanderers 0(1). Léo Bonatini (Wolverhampton Wanderers) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom right corner.
Penalties in progress
Penalty Shootout begins Manchester City 0, Wolverhampton Wanderers 0.
Post update
Second Half Extra Time ends, Manchester City 0, Wolverhampton Wanderers 0.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Leroy Sané.
Post update
Attempt saved. Sergio Agüero (Manchester City) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Yaya Touré.
Post update
Attempt missed. Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) right footed shot from outside the box is too high from a direct free kick.
Post update
Raheem Sterling (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Alfred N'Diaye (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
Post update
Corner, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Conceded by Kevin De Bruyne.
Post update
Corner, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Conceded by Kyle Walker.
Post update
Attempt missed. Sergio Agüero (Manchester City) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Kevin De Bruyne following a corner.
Post update
Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Ryan Bennett.
Comments
Join the conversation
Well done Wolves, great to see us give it a real go and proud. Better luck for us next season ? Who know, lets hope so. UTW!
Well done Wolves.
- Villa fan
Great cup game and City deserved the win...just about.
Also nice to see Bravo prove he isn't actually a hologram.
Once Bright gets the hang of hitting the back of the net he's going to be some player.
Thanks to all the City (and other teams) fans for your gracious comments towards our team and style of football.
Shameful post - markthebellendkid is a more appropriate username
Well done Wolves for wasting your energy for 120 minutes.
Had no chance of getting past Guardiola and his men anyway.
Now please go back to your championship games at the weekend.
Best team won this game but it was a good attempt to park the bus Wolves.
Just as well it's half term holidays or your mummy wouldn't allow you to stay up this late..
What do you google? "Man City insults used more than 100 million times"
OK i know its hurting that City always look down on Utd now, so here's an apology to you from City fans,
"we are sorry we have a better team, manager fans and owners than you, sorry utd are not even the best team in their own city let alone the World"
Goodnight and 'mind the gap'