Brazilian striker Denilson hit the post with 13 minutes to go, but that was as close as the South Korean side would go as the two-time Asian champions moved onto six points from four games.

The result means they stay in second place in the group, four points behind leaders Kawasaki Frontale and clear by the same margin of third-placed Central Coast Mariners.

Tianjin, meanwhile, remain adrift in the battle for the group's two slots in the knockout phase of the competition with the club rooted to the bottom of the standings with just two points, with just two games remaining.

Pohang always looked the more likely to score with Nam Gong-do curling a shot from the edge of the box just wide of the Tianjin goal while Kim Gi-dong twice forced saves out of home goalkeeper Yang Jun.

The goalkeeper brilliantly tipped Kim's 30-yard drive over the crossbar after 33 minutes before he palmed away the midfielder's sublime free-kick from the right just before the break.

After a disappointing opening 45 minutes, Tianjin picked up the pace in the second half with former Italy international Damiano Tommasi pulling the strings in midfield, but the Chinese side still came up short.