Holders Stellenbosch FC defeated AmaZulu 2-1 in extra-time to secure their spot in the quarter-finals of the Carling Knockout on Friday night.
Usuthu gave a debut to goalkeeper Richard Ofori, while Ashley Cupido partnered sAndre De Jong in his first start for the Cape Winelands outfit.
The former Royal AM striker looked to break the deadlock a little after the opening ten minutes in the form of a pin-point header following a cross, but Ofori pulled off a save.
Stellies got in front in an underwhelming opening for the home team after De Jong ran in to the near post and played a cutback for the on-rushing Devon Titus to lash in the roof of the net.
Under the new coaches, Usuthu targeted an immediate reply a littler later with a free-kick won by Tshepang Moremi, but Sage Stephens picked up the resultant effort.
A double substitution by Arthur Zwane and Vusumuzi Vilakazi after halftime saw Etiosa Ighodaro come on for Mlondi Mbanjwa before Wayde Jooste replaced Rowan Human.
The host were revived just minutes from the break and levelled when a perfectly placed through ball set Moremi in-behind and he applied a smart finish into the bottom-corner.
Usuthu's energy were lively at this point and had the Maroons firmly pinned through a number of forward entries involving substitute Ighodaro.
The latter caused more problems in the closing exchanges and brought Stephens to a point-blank save from a first-time effort in the area.
Stellies went close to sealing it in the dying minutes through a half-volley right from the area by Titus, but Ofori reacted smartly and denied him a brace.
New-Zealand-born De Jong regained the lead five minutes in the extra-time after heading in a perfectly placed cross from Sanele Barns in off the ground and in the top corner.
The Maroons should've made it three a while later where a low cross-cum shot by Titus managed to sneak in the bottom-corner, but it was called for offside.
AmaZulu looked to go level minutes apart through a surging header by Ighodaro, but Stephens got down and parried into touch.
Stephens made more telling saves as the minutes ticked by in particular a scorching free-kick by Abbubaker Mobara and effectively helped his side to victory.
Confirmed line-ups:
AmaZulu: Ofori, Sikhakhane, Hanamub, Gumede, Fielies, Mobara, Brooks, Human, Dion, Moremi, Mbanjwa
Subs: Mothwa, Ngobeni, Mngonyama, Jooste, Ekstein, Kunene, Sithole, Ighodaro, Ndlovu
Stellenbosch:S tephens, Mcaba, Toure, Mdaka, Jurgens, Barns, Nduli, Cupido, Titus, De Jong, Butsaka
Subs: Masuluke, Basadien, De Kock, Adams, Onyango, Palace, Jabaar, Lekoloane, Mini