Alibobo Rakhmatullaev’s header with six minutes remaining of extra-time settled a thrilling quarter-final contest at Jar Stadium as Bunyodkor prevailed 5-4 on aggregate having twice fallen behind on the night after also coming from two goals behind to draw the first leg 2-2 in Australia last month.

The win was only Bunyodkor’s second over Adelaide in five recent meetings in the AFC Champions League, with the first coming as the Swallows won the second leg of their 2008 semi-final 1-0 only to lose 3-1 on aggregate.

“In the first half we played very well and made many chances, but we could not convert them,” said Kasimov.

“Our opponent scored first but the team then started to play better. The players were able to change the game and show their character.

“We have played Adelaide a lot in the last few years and I am happy we were finally able to break our tradition of losing to them.”

Iain Fyfe’s fourth minute strike had set Adelaide on their with the Reds on the back foot after the first leg having let slip a two-goal lead before being forced to settle for a 2-2 draw.

Lutfulla Turaev’s header pulled Bunyodkor level on the night after 20 minutes only for Adelaide substitute Jeronimo Neumann to put the Reds back in pole position just after the hour mark.

But Akmal Shorakhmedov pulled the home side level with 17 minutes remaining before Adelaide’s Fabian Barbiero was sent-off in the last minute of normal time.

Anvar Gafurov’s red card in the first half of extra-time also reduced the hosts to 10-men, but Bunyodkor found the winner with six minutes of an enthralling tie remaining as substitute Rakhmatullaev headed home Turaev’s cross to kick start wild celebrations with Uzbekistan already celebrating reaching the final of the AFC U-16 Championship after beating Iran earlier on Wednesday.

“I am not sure why were as passive as we were in the first half, that is something we will need to analyse and look at,” added Kasimov.

Bunyodkor have fallen in the Round of 16 over the last two seasons in the AFC Champions League after reaching the semi-finals on their debut appearance in 2008 under Brazilian coach Zico after Kasimov had guided the Swallows through the Group Stage before taking over as Uzbekistan national team coach for the first time.

“If you compare the team from now to the one in 2008, we do not have any of the star players like Rivaldo,” said Kasimov.

“Now we have more native players from Uzbekistan and not star players like Rivaldo.”