The visitors spent much of the match at the Tancheon Sports Complex on the back foot but goalkeeper Ignatiy Nesterov made a series of excellent saves to preserve the lead as the Uzbek side advanced to the last eight of the continental tournament for the first time since 2009.

Mirdjalal Kasimov’s side also handed 2010 AFC Champions League winners Seongnam their first home defeat in the competition since they were beaten 5-0 by Al Ittihad of Saudi Arabia in the second leg of the 2004 final.

“In the first half, we were unable to control the game but we changed our play at the start of the second half and got the crucial goal,” said Bunyodkor coach Kasimov.

“I told the players at half-time to try to get more control of the ball and after we got the goal I thought that we defended very well. It was a tough game but the players concentrated very well because they knew that it was a one-off knockout match.”

Seongnam dominated the first half and had their first real effort on goal after 11 minutes when Yoon Bit Garam’s shot from a tight angle was punched clear by Nesterov.

Brazilian striker Hevertinho then went close for the hosts in the 25th minute as he pounced on a loose ball just outside the six-yard box but stabbed his effort narrowly wide.

The visitors played mainly on the counterattack but they nearly took the lead two minutes later through Australia midfielder David Carney, who found himself in space 25 yards from goal as the Seongnam defence backed off and launched a left-footed drive that came back off the right post with goalkeeper Ha Kang-jin well beaten.

Seongnam continued to exert the pressure and Han Sung-wun created a good opening in the 35th minute when he threaded a neat pass through to Hevertinho but the Brazilian’s weak attempt went straight into the arms of Nesterov.

As half-time approached, Yoon squared the ball for Kim Sung-joon whose low shot from 20 yards went just wide of the left upright.

Having absorbed much of the pressure in the opening half, Bunyodkor came out strongly after the interval and squandered a great opportunity in the 48th minute when Jan Kozak knocked down a cross for an unmarked Lutfulla Turaev, who fired over the crossbar from just inside the box.

However, the breakthrough would arrive for the Uzbek side in the 53rd minute when they were awarded a penalty after Lim Jong-eun pulled back Kamoliddin Murzoev as he attempted to wriggle his way past the Seongnam defender.

Lim was booked and Karimov coolly stroked the ball into the bottom left corner of the net to put the visitors ahead.

The home side were stung into action and laid siege to the Bunyodkor goal for the rest of the half, only to be continually denied by Nesterov.

In the 56th minute, Hevertinho touched the ball forward for Yoon who attempted a quick volley that was well covered by the Uzbekistan international goalkeeper.

Han then cut in from the right flank midway through the second half and launched a dipping shot from 25 yards that was brilliantly tipped over by Nesterov.

Yoon was again denied with 15 minutes remaining when his curling free-kick from the edge of the box was turned aside by the Bunyodkor custodian.

And Nesterov compounded the frustrations of the Korea Republic international winger in the 83rd minute when he used his feet to block a first-time effort by Yoon after he had connected well on a low cross from the right by Kim Deo-kil.

Seongnam coach Shin Tae-yong was left to lament his side’s poor finishing as they failed to reach the quarter-finals for the first time in their last four appearances in the tournament.

“Today I thought that we played well but our finishing was poor,” said the former Korea Republic international midfielder.

“We have had problems with our finishing not only in the AFC Champions League but also in the K-League and it is something that we will have to work on during our upcoming mid-season break.”