Iranian team Sepahan shattered the dreams of Japan's Kawasaki Frontale in a tense penalty shootout on Wednesday to reach the semi-finals of the AFC Champions League.

The second leg tie ended 0-0 after extra-time, taking the game to spot-kicks.

Hiroyuki Taniguchi fired the home team's fourth effort wide leaving Jalal Akbari to slot home Sepahan's final penalty to take them through 5-4 to set up a clash against Saudi side Al Hilal or Al Wahda from the United Arab Emirates.

"I'd like to congratulate my players for this great victory. We played not so well, not so beautiful, but it the point is that we reached the semi-finals," said Sepahan's Croat coach Luka Bonacic.

"Sometime I was thinking God was on our side. Kawasaki was a better team in both games."

Kawaskai hit the target several times early on without getting past Sepahan goalkeeper Abbas Mohammadi Shah Abadi.

The Iranians were also charging forward and found the net through Emad Ridha but he was adjudged offside.

Brazilian striker Juninho had several chances, but again the 'keeper showed fine reflexes to keep Sepahan in the match.

The J-League outfit dominated the second half with Juninho again going close but neither side could get the breakthough and it went to extra-time where tiredness crept in and the game fizzled out.

"I was very disappointed that we couldn't live up to our people's expectations," said Kawasaki coach Takashi Sekizuka.

"We made so many chances but we couldn't score. We should have won the two games. My players did very well."