The exit of the two tournament favourites opens up the field for a new champion this year, with current holders Kaizer Chiefs having gone out in the first round.
Both sets of coaches will be desperately disappointed, with Pirates hoping for a fourth successive Nedbank Cup final, but in truth they did not do enough at Orlando Stadium.
They could not be separated from Stars after 120 minutes in a game of few chances, requiring what turned into a dramatic penalty shoot-out.
Nkosinathi Sibisi missed Pirates’ first spot-kick and Stars had been proficient until Manqoba Ozoemena stepped up to take their fourth kick, but was too elaborate and put his effort wide of the post.
When Pirates’ Mpho Chabatsane put his effort over the bar, Stars had the chance to win it, but Mfundo Thikazi saw his penalty saved by Sipho Chaine.
Nkosikhona Ndaba missed again for Pirates to give Stars another chance for victory, which Zebulon Mtshweni took to seal a 5-4 win.
“It’s a very disappointing result, especially after the midweek result against Sundowns. In cup football, any team can challenge you over one game with team spirit. Congratulations to Casric Stars, they got the game they wanted,” Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou told SuperSport.
“They allowed us to have the ball and we created some opportunities, but we didn’t score in the first half and that gave them motivation. We’ll analyse this and we’ll bounce back quickly.
“They (Stars) have players who have competed at a high level and they showed their experience. We worked on penalties during the week and Sipho made some good saves in the shoot-out, but it wasn’t meant to be.”
Galaxy sprung a major surprise with a 2-0 victory over Sundowns in their Last 16 clash at a sold-out Solomon Mahlangu Stadium, the first time the Brazilians have exited the competition before the quarter-finals since 2019.
Galaxy were full value for their win as teenager Siphamandla Ngwenya scored on debut and Junior Zindoga added a second from the penalty spot.
Galaxy took the lead on Saturday after 19 minutes and it was a special moment for Ngwenya. Divine Lunga coughed up possession and the teenager raced through the centre before beating Denis Onyango in the Sundowns goal with a low shot into the corner.
Ngwenya had joined Galaxy in December from East High Academy but could only be registered this week after a FIFA transfer ban on Galaxy was lifted.
It was 2-0 just past the half-hour mark as Galaxy were awarded a clear penalty, for which Sundowns could have no complaints.
Winger Seluleko Mahlambi took on Sundowns left-back Thato Sibiya in the box and the 19-year-old made an ill-timed tackle in which he failed to win the ball. Zindoga stepped up to convert the spot-kick.
Durban City needed penalties for the second round in a row as they advanced at the expense of second-tier Upington City, who finished the game with 10 men after a red card for Mario Visagie in their hard-fought 0-0 draw at the Mxolisi Dicky Jacobs Stadium in Upington.
The home side missed all four of their penalties in the shoot-out, and Durban City advanced 2-0.
They had also played to a 0-0 draw in the previous round and beat Chippa United on spot-kicks.
Lamontville Golden Arrows overcame Stellenbosch FC with a 1-0 win, with the visitors also finishing with 10 men.
Angelo van Rooi gave Abafana Bes’thende the lead on 66 minutes with a fine finish for his second goal in this year’s Nedbank Cup after he also netted in the 3-0 win over Orbit College in the previous round.
Stellenbosch lost Thabo Moloisane to a second yellow card in the final 10 minutes.
The Durban club are into their first Nedbank Cup quarter-final since 2019, when they reached the last four.