No Byung-jun silenced the home crowd after just seven minutes when he netted a precious away goal before Victor Karpenko’s stunning 30th minute volley pulled Luiz Felipe Scolari’s side level.

And after defender Kim Hyung-il was sent-off for the visitors just after the hour mark to leave Pohang in disarray, Jasur Hasanov twice set up Djeparov inside the final 11 minutes to hand last year’s beaten semi-finalists the advantage ahead of next week’s second leg.

As promised, Pohang coach Sergio Farias kept faith with his three-pronged attack which proved so effective in the last 16 demolition of Newcastle Jets and it paid off after just eight minutes.

Kim Jung-kyum’s flighted left wing cross dropped perfectly at the feet off No and the striker rifled past Ignatiy Nesterov after calmly displaying expert control on the edge of the six-yard area.

Brazilian Joao Victor attempted to restore parity after 19 minutes but Pohang goalkeeper Shin Hwa-yong kept his eye firmly on the midfielder’s low drive.

Shin had to again be on his toes five minutes later as the Pohang custodian turned away Anvar Soliev’s downward header from Djeparov’s inviting near post cross as the home side began to assert their authority on the contest.

But Shin was at fault for the home side’s equaliser on the half-hour mark as he opted to punch Rivaldo’s corner under no pressure and the clearance dropped perfectly for Karpenko 30 yards out.

The midfielder smashed a stunning volley past a static Shin that sent the home crowd into raptures although a crucial deflection seemed to aid its passage into the back of the net.

Bunyodkor made a flying start to the second-half as Soliev was inches from handing the home side the lead when Djeparov’s low cross following a flowing move instigated by Rivaldo was played just behind the onrushing striker inside the area.

Pohang were then dealt a huge blow after 66 minutes when defender Kim Hyung-il picked up a second yellow card in the space of 11 minutes for a needless shirt pull, which led coach Farias to withdraw striker Denilson and shore up his defence by introducing Kim Kwang-suk.

And after pinning the Steelers inside their own half for long periods, Bunyodkor were rewarded with 11 minutes remaining when Hasanov burst into space down the left and expertly picked out the on-rushing Djeparov to sweep home from just inside the area.

With the Steelers shell-shocked, the duo again combined with four minutes remaining as Hasanov’s chipped cross found Djeparov unmarked at the far post.

Pohang thought they had grabbed a late lifeline when they managed to poke home a free-kick in stoppage time but it was ruled out seemingly for offside.