Orlando Pirates survived a scare Sunday to defeat Polokwane City 2-1 and reach the South African League Cup quarter-finals.

Polokwane debutant Tokelo Langa smashed a loose ball past Buccaneers and South Africa goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa on 15 minutes at Orlando Stadium in Soweto.

But Senegalese Isaac Sarr levelled three minutes later with a flying header off a corner as goalkeeper Dino Visser came off his line slowly.

Early-season league strugglers Polokwane then matched 2013 CAF Champions League runners-up Pirates in the battle of the Serbian tacticians.

Vladimir Vermezovic coaches Pirates and Kosta Papic has moved into the Polokwane hot seat after quitting Chippa United when they wanted to appoint a technical director above him.

The match-winner arrived midway through the second half on a hot South African spring day as Thabo Qalinge punished sluggish defending to score with a sizzling close-range shot.

Pirates were among eight home teams to win with arch-rivals Kaizer Chiefs stretching to 12 matches a winning sequence since the start of the season two months ago.

Chiefs edged Maritzburg United 1-0 in the league last weekend at Soccer City stadium in Soweto and repeated that scoreline at the same venue to join the League Cup last-eight.

Fit-again Bernard Parker, the leading Premiership scorer last season with a paltry 10 goals from the 30-round championship, struck the lone goal 15 minutes into the opening half.

Veteran midfielder Siphiwe Tshabalala crossed and Parker chested the ball over diving Namibia goalkeeper Virgil Vries.

Chiefs have won seven league games under England-born former South Africa and Finland coach Stuart Baxter and five in two cup competitions.

Mamelodi Sundowns, who form the big three of South African football with Pirates and Chiefs in terms of success, support and wealth, needed extra time to pip Pretoria University 2-1 in Pretoria.

A Tebogo Langerman goal for Sundowns was cancelled by Ugandan Geoffrey Massa before Mozambican Elias 'Domingues' Pelembe struck the extra-time winner via an unstoppable shot.

Bottom league club AmaZulu were the other extra-time winners, coming from two goals behind to defeat Bloemfontein Celtic 3-2 in Durban.

AmaZulu, winless in seven Premiership games, sidelined coach Craig Rosslee and put Zimbabwe-born assistant Wilfred 'Silver Fox' Mugeyi in charge.

The move seemed to backfire as Dumisani Zuma and Vuyani Ntanga goals gave Celtic a two-goal lead nine minutes from time.

But a fierce Marc van Heerden drive halved the deficit, Zimbabwean Khulekani Madondo levelled and Zambian Bornwell Mwape snatched the 93rd-minute winner.

Ajax Cape Town, title-holders Platinum Stars, SuperSport United and Wits University were the other home winners with the eight cup ties producing 20 goals.