Muangthong dominated the first half with Felicio Brown Forbes smashing an early effort over the bar after Poramet Arjvilai and Purachet Thodsanid had also been off-target while Brown’s 20th minute attempt to flick past Gong Si-hyeon ended in the goalkeeper’s hands.

Poramet’s 28th minute shot from the edge of the penalty area was then blocked and captain Picha Autra’s follow-up attempt was deflected wide as the hosts continued to dictate proceedings without finding a way through the Jeonbuk backline.

Jang Na-ming ventured forward for the visitors in the 36th minute only to fire across the face of goal in a rare attempt for the K League side before Forbes dragged a shot from 20 yards wide of Gong’s right post.

Muangthong’s opener did finally arrive, and it came a minute into time added onto at the end of the half.

Poramet raced to the left to pick up possession as the ball was played forward before exchanging passes with Brown and then feeding Kakana Khamyok, who set up Purachet to sweep his finish left-foot beyond Gong.

Gong tipped a Purachet shot that was destined for the bottom corner around his post in the eighth minute of the second half as Muangthong sought to extend a lead that was kept intact six minutes later.

Kittipong Phoothawchuek had to react sharply to keep the Koreans out, tipping Park Jun-beom’s close-range shot onto the underside of the crossbar after the Jeonbuk forward pounced on Jang’s downward header.

Poramet and Kakana were both off target as Muangthong sought a second to ease their nerves while Gong kept out Emil Roback’s low strike three minutes into injury time as the hosts held on to confirm their qualification.