Two goals from Brazilian maestro Leonardo ended the campaign of Melbourne Victory in the 2016 Asian Champions League on Wednesday as Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors won the second leg of the second round 2-1, to take the tie 3-2 on aggregate.
A week after the two teams drew 1-1 in Australia, Jeonbuk deserved the win in front of their home fans and move into the quarterfinals but were made to sweat as Besart Berisha's late strike gave the visitors a chance. That goal meant that had Melbourne scored again, they would have progressed to the last eight by virtue of the away goals rule.
If the end was tense, it was a nervy start from Jeonbuk too as Victory had an excellent chance within the first five minutes to grab a vital away goal. Jason Geria galloped down the right on the overlap and his cross from the byline found Archie Thompson unmarked at the far post. The striker's downward header was blocked by Kwoun Sun-tae on the line. Then, Thompson, with the goal at his mercy, saw his shot deflected out for a corner.
Melbourne boss Kevin Muscat lamented the missed opportunity after the match.
Due to the fact that Leanardo had scored with a free kick in the first leg, the coach was also not happy that his team gave a foul in the 27th minute. The position was outside the left side of the area and perhaps Melbourne goalkeeper Lawrence Thomas expected a cross because he could only help the ball, whipped in at pace, into the far corner of the net.
As the game progressed, Jeonbuk looked likelier to get a second than the A-League team to get their first and that is exactly what happened with 20 minutes remaining. Substitute Ricardo Lopes had space down the left and rolled the ball across the edge of the penalty area for the fast arriving Leanardo to fire home with precision and pace.
Soon after, Lopes hit the bar with a shot from the corner of the area, and when Kosta Barbarouses shot against the post, Melbourne's chance seemed to have slipped.
But then, with seven minutes remaining, Victory were back in it. Jai Ingham's cross from the right was expertly sent into the back of the net from Albanian striker Berisha from close range.
The atmosphere at the Jeonju World Cup Stadium was suddenly transformed as another goal would send Melbourne through to the last eight. There was plenty of effort but few clear chances.
For the second time in three years, the Australian side's continental campaign ended at Jeonju World Cup Stadium.
Jeonbuk were joined in the last eight by Shanghai SIPG who eliminated FC Tokyo thanks to a last-minute strike from Wu Lei.
The Japanese, managed by former England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson, had taken the first leg 2-1 at home and held out until the 91st minute when Wu struck.