Ulsan, Jeonbuk share spoils in Asian Champions League quarter-final opener

Song Min-kyu gave Jeonbuk a fourth-minute lead at their Jeonju World Cup Stadium before Brazilian Tiago Orobo fluffed a chance to double their lead when he crashed a penalty against the crossbar.

Ulsan, domestic K-League champions for the past two seasons, looked out of ideas in the first half but they came roaring back after the break and Lee Myung-jae grabbed an equaliser in the 77th minute.

The two teams will meet again in next week's second leg, with the winner going on to face either China's Shandong Taishan or Japan's Yokohama F-Marinos in the semi-finals.

Ulsan and Jeonbuk have shared the last seven K-League titles but it was Jeonbuk who dominated the first half.

Dan Petrescu's side took advantage of some sloppy defending to open the scoring with the game just minutes old.

Lee Dong-jun raced down the wing before delivering a cross that Song tucked home with minimal resistance from the Ulsan defence.

Jeonbuk had the chance to add a second midway through the first half when the referee pointed to the penalty spot after Lee Myung-jae had brought down Lee Dong-jun charging into the box.

But Orobo smashed his kick against the crossbar with South Korean international goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-woo beaten.

Um Won-sang thrashed a shot into the side-netting with a rare first-half chance for Ulsan just seconds before the interval.

Hwang Seok-ho then went close with a header from a corner five minutes into the second half as Ulsan began to find their rhythm.

Hong Myung-bo's side scored their equaliser when Jeonbuk's Jeong Tae-wook gave the ball away to Lee in his own penalty area.

Lee calmly shimmied past Kim Tae-hwan before slotting it into the net.

Shandong host Yokohama in the first leg of their quarter-final in China on Wednesday.