Scolari chose to implement a defensive approach to the game after the Uzbekistan side had won 3-1 in the first leg but that tactic perhaps proved their undoing as a second-half brace from Denilson and a Kim Jae-sung strike put Pohang in control.

Bunyodkor substitute Victor Karpenko forced extra-time however as his strike with two minutes remaining levelled the tie on aggregate, but Pohang secured their place in the semi-finals as striker Stevo Ristic headed home after 11 minutes of extra-time.

"I felt that we had come in the with the best plan and I felt like that strategy would give us victory," said Scolari.

"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."

Pohang coach Sergio Farias, meanwhile, admitted he was both surprised and elated by the performance of his side against such difficult opponents.

"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," he said.

"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."