Cape Town City ensured there would be no third Nedbank Cup final in a row for Orlando Pirates with a 1-0 Last 16 victory at a wet and foggy Cape Town Stadium on Wednesday.
The only goal of the game was scored in the second half by the excellent Ayanda Patosi, illustrating again his return to form in recent weeks by driving the side to a third victory in a row.
City now enter the quarter-final draw on Thursday night along with National First Division side Ubuntu Cape Town, Free State Stars, Baroka FC, Kaizer Chiefs, Bloemfontein Celtic, Maritzburg United and Mamelodi Sundowns.
Pirates started the brighter and after City winger Surprise Ralani lost the ball in midfield, Zambian forward Justin Shonga lashed a shot from the edge of the box against the post.
It was end-to-end from the beginning, and Patosi then warmed the palms of Pirates goalkeeper Siyabonga Mpontshane as he spilled the ball into the path of Austrian midfielder Roland Putsche, who could not adjust his body in time to turn home the rebound.
City had an excellent chance to take the lead midway through the first half when Teko Modise's free-kick found its way to centre-back Taariq Fielies. His first effort was blocked, but from the rebound he had a clear sight of goal and blazed over from 12 yards.
City winger Lyle Lakay went on a mazy run that ended with a shot that shaved the crossbar, before Pirates' Zimbabwe midfielder Marshall Munetsi collected the ball at the back post from a corner, but curled his effort wide.
The goal that both sides had been threatening all night arrived on 54 minutes as Ralani found space on the left and his low cross was superbly turned home by Patosi, who blasted the ball into the back of the net.
From that moment on it was mostly Pirates on the attack as they piled bodies forward in search of the equaliser.
Munetsi saw his header from a corner cleared off the line by Modise, while City goalkeeper Sage Stephens made a fine stop from Shonga as City held on for their first ever victory over Pirates at the fourth attempt.