Driven on after feeling hard done by in last week’s 3-1 first-leg defeat in Tashkent, Pohang took advantage of a defensive approach from Bunyodkor as the home side turned the tie on its head with a second-half brace from Denilson after Kim Jae-sung had struck just after the break putting Pohang on course for the last four.

Bunyodkor substitute Victor Karpenko, though, forced extra-time as his spectacular strike with two minutes remaining levelled the tie on aggregate.

But the home side were not to to be denied as striker Stevica Ristic (pictured) headed home after 11 minutes of extra-time to send Pohang, who were without Kim Hyung-Il following his dismissal in the first leg, through to a last four meeting with Qatar’s Umm Salal who overcame Steelers’ compatriots FC Seoul.

“It was a really fantastic game for both teams and I was so happy with my team’s composure to come back after they equalised late in the game,” said Farias.

“I felt that their strategy gave us plenty of chances to score and in the first half, we just didn’t have the goal that we needed. When Kim scored in the second half, that gave us the confidence we needed to get more goals.

“Our team showed something that I have not seen from them before. We were missing one of our best players in Kim Hyung-Il and they came together to win this game as a team.”

Bunyodkor coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, meanwhile, was left to ponder his decision to attempt to defend their first-leg advantage.

“I felt that we had come in with the best plan and I felt like that strategy would give us victory,” said the Brazilian coach.

“Our team made mistakes and Pohang was able to capitalise on them and they came out winners.

“You have to give them credit for the heart and desire they showed, they were the better team and we will have to come away and learn from this.

“I feel like our team is young enough that we can learn from this and it will help us in the future. For now, we must go home and learn from this game.”