Adelaide United had to settle for a 2-2 draw against crack Korean side Seongnam Ilhwa in their Asian Champions League clash at Hindmarsh Stadium as both sides stumbled in their bid to advance in the competition.

United looked on track for their second win in a row after taking a 2-0 lead with goals from Brazilian striker Fernando and Olyroo Bruce Djite in the first 10 minutes of the second half but the leading Korean side hit back for a pulsating draw.

Substitute Kim Dong Hun got Seongnam back on track from close range in the 56th minute before their Brazilian striker Mota levelled the match with a rifled volley past Adelaide keeper Robert Bajic in the 75th minute.

The draw left both sides trailing group leader, China's Shandong Luneng which had beaten both teams in the first two rounds.

United weathered some anxious moments in the first half from Seongnam, a former Asian Champions league winner, before they let rip with all out attack in the second half to seize the momentum.

Seongnam's other Brazilian spearhead Itamar spurned two great chances with his head before half time set up by the wizardry of winger Choi Sungkuk.

But then the Koreans were ambushed by a more spirited United side straight after half time to open up the play at both ends.

Fernando powered home his second goal of the competition in the 48th minute with a low ground shot after a pass through the middle from Djite.

Djite jumped for joy after netting his first competition goal for Adelaide with a spectacular volley into the roof of the net in the 55th minute after a layoff from Travis Dodd.

But United's joy lasted less than a minute as Choi found Kim Dong Hun loose inside the penalty area to force the ball past Bajic.

Djite spurned two good chances in the penalty area in the 67th and 72nd minutes before United paid the price.

Defender Park Jin Sub crossed from the right and Mota scooped up the ball and volleyed home from 15 metres for the leveller.

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