The draw means Seongnam retain their three-point advantage at the summit over Pohang, who reclaim second spot from Suwon Bluewings, who played on Saturday.

In-form Brazilian midfielder Taveres slipped the ball to Hwang Jin-sung on the half-hour and he fired past Kim Yong-dae to give Pohang the upper hand.

However, with 14 minutes remaining, Mota rescued a point for his side for the second time in four days.

After scoring the equaliser in Wednesday's 2-2 draw with Adelaide United in the AFC Champions League, the Brazilian found space to shoot on the edge of the box, giving the Steelers keeper no chance.

The poor domestic form of Chunnam Dragons, who crashed to a 3-1 home defeat at the hands of Kawasaki Frontale in midweek, continued as they could only manage a goalless draw at bottom club Gwangju Samgmu.

It was the Dragons' fourth draw in six games so far this season.

Sung Jung-hyun went the closest for the visitors early in the second half but he drilled his shot wide from a good position.

Meanwhile, defending continental champions Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, who start their defence in the quarter-finals of the 2007 competition, were defeated 2-0 at home by lowly Daejeon Citizen.

Two goals from Brazilian striker Denilson in the last 12 minutes did the damage.

First, he slotted home a penalty after Jong Sung-hoon had been brought down in the box and five minutes later his left-foot shot sealed the win for the visitors.

FC Seoul were held to a goalless draw by Ulsan Hyundai Horangi and on the south coast Busan I'Park were thrashed 4-1 by Gyeongnam FC.

Elsewhere, Incheon United moved into the top six with a 2-0 win at Jeju United.