Socceroo Mile Jedinak helped Crystal Palace record a 1-0 win in the first leg of their Carling Cup semi-final against Cardiff City at Selhurst Park.
For much of Tuesday's match it was visitors Cardiff applying the pressure, but they struggled to force opportunities in front of goal, while Palace were more clinical with their limited chances.
Anthony Gardner gave Palace the win with a header following Jedinak's flick on just before half-time, and despite a couple of chances in the second half, Cardiff were unable to make the most of their pressure as the hosts defended well.
The opening minutes saw the teams spar for possession, with Cardiff starting to gain headway, winning set piece after set piece.
And although Ben Turner went close from a Peter Whittingham corner, the visitors failed to take what would have been a deserved lead.
Just before the 20-minute mark, Glenn Murray should have done better when unmarked from a corner, but Palace's hero from their quarter-final victory against Manchester United put his header wide.
If the hosts were not disappointed enough with that, they would soon be rueing a great chance as Kagisho Dikgacoi's effort was foiled by goalkeeper Tom Heaton.
Cardiff went close as Kevin McNaughton's low-cross was deflected to Kenny Miller in the centre of the box, but after skipping past one challenge, his space to shoot was quickly shut down.
Miller was soon trying his luck once again, this time with an audacious attempt from the corner of the penalty area, but his curling strike flew just past Julian Speroni's left post.
Despite Cardiff arguably enjoying the better of the first half, it was the hosts who went into the break with the lead as Gardner struck just before half-time.
Darren Ambrose whipped in an inviting free-kick from the left and Gardner rose to head in at the far post after Jedinak flicked a header on from the near side.
The second half picked up where the first left off as Palace looked the more dangerous in front of goal and young Wilfried Zaha continued to dazzle the Cardiff defenders with his brilliant footwork.
Zaha, who supplied some decent crosses in the first half, was at it again six minutes into the second period.
He tricked his way past three Cardiff players down Palace's left wing, but no team-mate was able to get on the end of a teasing cross.
A few seconds later Chris Martin, on-loan from Norwich City, poked just wide for the hosts.
Cardiff, already chasing the game, twice came close to an equaliser as Joe Ralls' half-volley was tipped round the post by Speroni.
Miller then found the net from the resulting corner, but the strike was harshly ruled out.
As the second half wore on, the visitors found it increasingly difficult to make the most of the pressure they were asserting, and created very little.
Palace meanwhile appeared reluctant to attack, opting to sit back and soak up the pressure.
Cardiff did manage to carve open one half-chance, with Darcy Blake charging down the right before finding Whittingham in the area.
Whittingham's attempted shot was deflected towards Stephen McPhail, but the Irishman was always stretching, and his effort went flying over the bar.
Cardiff continued to search for that elusive equaliser, with Whittingham going close as stoppage-time approached, but his shot from the edge of the area was deflected just past the post, as Palace held on for the narrow win.
It will be up to the Welsh club to recover the deficit when they host Palace in the return leg at Cardiff City Stadium on January 24.