Cape Town City advanced to the MTN8 semi-finals after defeating Sekhukhune United 1-0 on Saturday afternoon.
Citizens gave debuts to Fortune Makaringe, Kamohelo Mokotjo and Haashim Domingo, while Babina Noko did likewise with new signings Thabang Monare as well as Keletso Makgalwa.
Babina Noko enjoyed a lot of the forward momentum in possession in the opening minutes, but lacked efficacy to unsettle Darren Keet in the goal of the Citizens.
Makgalwa did come inches though to making the breakthrough courtesy of a snap shot across the face of goal after making a blind-run in the area, but he in the end fired wide.
City looked to grow in confidence, but experienced a set-back ten minutes to halftime when Tshegofatso Nyama stepped on for the injured Lorenzo Gordinho.
The Citizens missed a golden chance when a foul in the area by the host led to a penalty, but Darwin Gonzalez fired off the crossbar and left Babina Noko off the hook.
Both teams opted to keep the same personnel that did duty in the first spell, with no substitutions instituted ahead of the second stanza.
After a pretty slow spell of matters, the Citizens looked to go ahead a little later when Gonzalez dropped to the shoulder of the box only to fire high and wide from a tight angle.
Sekhukhune enjoyed promising spells too albeit on the counter, with big-man Chibuike Ohizu holding play and looking to bring others in but he was kept well in line.
Babina Noko were unfortunate not to steal the winner eight minutes from time following a glancing header in the area by captain Linda Mntambo, but it snapped wide.
The Citizens, though, were given another spot-kick when Thamsanqa Mkhize handled in the box two minutes to the end and this time Gonzalez made no mistake but executed.
Sekhukhune were unable to work out a response, as the 2018 champions held on and progressed to the semi-finals.
Confirmed line-ups:
Sekhukhune United: Sangare, Tshibwabwa, Langa, Cardoso, Mkhabela, Mkhize, Monare, Mntambo, Makgalwa, Mncube, Ohizu.
Subs: Kazapua, Mahlangu, Carnell, Ngcobo, Mohamme, Mtshali, Mokhuoane, Seseane, Mogaila.
Cape Town City: Keet, Mkhize, Cupido, Gordinho, Sereetsi, Darwin, Mokotjo, Petrus, Dominho, Makaringe, Ah Shene
Subs: Olario, Fisher, Tjiueza, Francis, Nyama, Amato, April, Slatsha, Goedeman