Jeonbuk Motors saw their incredible second-leg turnaround come up short after losing on penalties to Suwon Bluewings following a 3-3 aggregate draw in the AFC Champions League quarter-finals.
The Suwon World Cup Stadium played host to a remarkable revival from Jeonbuk, who wiped out a 3-0 first-leg deficit in pursuit of a fifth semi-final outing in the competition, but saw Adriano s stoppage-time penalty saved by the inspired Shin Hwa-yong.
Adriano had struck early on to reduce the overall margin for the visitors, whose hopes of a comeback were raised further by Choi Bo-kyung s second-half header.
The leveller arrived from substitute Kim Shin-wook, but he was one of two Jeonbuk players to fluff his lines during spot-kicks as the Bluewings progressed to the last four for the first time since 2011.
The party has started at as the players and fans celebrate!
— AFC Champions League (@TheAFCCL)
Jeonbuk knew they needed something special against their K. League rivals in order to keep their title dreams alive.
Adriano s close-range finish after 11 minutes hinted that it may just be possible, with Suwon suddenly looking a lot less comfortable.
The away side were even quicker out of the blocks after the interval, Choi nodding in from Lee Seung-gi s corner to make it 3-2 in the tie.
Kim headed home from Lee Yong s cross in the 71st minute and Adriano should have wrapped up a stunning triumph, only for Shin s penalty save to force what proved to be a tense and scoreless extra time.
But the tide turned once it came down to who could hold their nerve from 12 yards, with Kim s penalty repelled by the inspired Shin, who also went on to deny Lee Dong-gook.
Elvis Saric, who set up two of his side s goals in the away leg, kept his cool to convert the decisive kick and set up a meeting with Kashima Antlers.
