Victory went into the match without Rhys Williams (suspended) and Terry Antonis (ill) but knowing a win would ensure progression to the knockoout phase.

Three goals in each half by the home side - including braces to Junior Negao (12', 67') and Mislav Orsic (38', 75') - completed a horror night for the A-League outfit.

Two quickfire goals by substitute Kenny Athiu (72') and Kosta Barbarouses (74') gave hope of an unlikely fightback before Orsic fired in Ulsan's sixth (and his second) a minute later.

It was Athiu's first goal in Victory colours. He bundled in a second late on which was scrubbed out for offside.

A dejected Kevin Muscat said post match the team had arrived in Korea with "very good intentions". It's just the second time in the club's history that they have copped six.

"Not great," Muscat said of the battering he just witnessed.

"From start to finish...the game didn't go accordingly right from the start. It became too much of a mountain to climb. Obviously disappointing.

"It was a difficult night for us all over the park. I'm disappointed for the group. We come here with very good intentions, and there was still lot of fight towards the end, but it wasn't to be for us."

 

A howler by goalkeeper Lawrence Thomas got the visitors off to the worst possible start. Junior was credited with the opener when he charged down the Victory custodian's clearance and the ball rebounded into the net.

But some instinctive saves by Thomas in the second half prevented an even greater blowout in the scoreline.

The K-League side which has struggled to fire on the domestic front, enjoyed a goalscoring free-for-all with Lim Jong-eun (20') and Kim Seung-Jun (55') also getting in on the action.

Shanghai SIPG - who Victory face at home on April 18 - and Ulsan progress from Group F to the knockout phase.