Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors stormed into the AFC Champions League final with a 5-3 aggregate victory over FC Seoul despite losing the all-Korean semifinal’s second leg 1-2 yesterday.

Korea Republic's Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors will face Al Ain of the United Arab Emirates in next month's AFC Champions League final after a 2-1 defeat on Wednesday's semi-final second leg against compatriots FC Seoul proved not enough to prevent the 5-3 aggregate triumph for the 2006 winners.

Having lost the first leg 4-1 in Jeonju, the hosts dominated proceedings in the first half at Seoul World Cup Stadium and cut the aggregate deficit to two goals when Carlos Adriano netted his record-equaling 13th goal of the tournament on 38 minutes.

However, Ricardo Lopes leveled the scores on 59 minutes and although Ko Kwang-min added a late winner on the night for FC Seoul they were unable to overcome the aggregate score difference, succumbing to a second continental semi-final exit in three years.

And after inaugural champions Al Ain claimed a 2-2 draw at Qatar's El Jaish on Tuesday to win their semi-final 5-3 on aggregate, the Emiratis will travel to Jeonju on November 19 before hosting the crucial second leg a week later.

With the home side needing to overcome a 4-1 scoreline, FC Seoul began the match with three forwards on the field including tournament top scorer Adriano, Dejan Damjanovic and Park Chu-young as Hwang Sun-hong honoured his commitment to play an attacking side.

Adriano was the first to try his luck on 16 minutes as he struck a low shot from range that was comfortable held by Jeonbuk ‘keeper Kwoun Sun-tae, before he was played in by Kim Chi-woo but the striker screwed his second effort wide.

Damjanovic then had a golden chance to open the scoring as Kwoun fumbled Ju Se-jong's ball into the area but the Montenegrin's follow-up ricocheted off the custodian's chest and away from danger.

Adriano then headed wide as FC Seoul continued to press for the game's vital opener, but just after the half-hour mark the visitors went close to making the breakthrough themselves as Kim Chang-soo forced Yoo Hyun into a sprawling save to his left with a fizzing effort from outside the area.

However, with eight minutes of the half remaining, FC Seoul did reduce the aggregate deficit.

Go Yo-han's incisive through-ball bisected the Jeonbuk defence and Kim Chi-woo squared for Adriano to stab home.

And the same player should have had his second on the brink of half-time as Ju found him alone inside the area, but Adriano mishit his shot and the ball bobbled into the grateful arms of Kwoun.

Following the restart, FC Seoul continued the hunt for more goals and Jeonbuk's Park Won-jae was almost punished for a poor header back to Kwoun that was seized upon by Ju leading to a three-on-one counter but the eventual shot from Park Chu-young was deflected wide by the furiously back-tracking defender who atoned for his earlier error.

In an effort to take a foot-hold on the game, Jeonbuk coach Choi Kang-hee made two changes on the 55th minute as Lee Dong-gook and Go Moo-yul entered the fray, but it was Lopes who hit FC Seoul with a sucker punch on the hour as the Brazilian turned his marker on the edge of the area and surged into the box before drilling the ball past Yoo to restore the three-goal cushion.

Although clearly deflated, FC Seoul had a chance to pull one back with 18 minutes remaining through Go but after Adriano chested the ball down to him the 28-year-old's powerful rising effort screeched wide of the right-hand upright.

Substitute Ko did, though, add a final cheer for the home supporters when he fired home in stoppage time, but it was the noisy swathe of Jeonbuk fans who were celebrating the loudest at the final whistle with Choi now set to take the side into a record third AFC Champions League final.

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