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Cape Town - Mamelodi Sundowns were handed a 4-1 hiding by South Korean outfit, Jeonbuk Hyundai, in their FIFA Club World Cup fifth-place playoff match on Wednesday.
After losing 2-0 in the quarter-finals to Japanese outfit, Kashima Antlers, Sundowns had a last chance to lift their spirits before boarding a plane back to South Africa.
However, it was not to be as Pitso Mosimane's charges were once again humbled at the Suita City Football Stadium in Osaka, Japan.
It took Jeonbuk 18 minutes to break the deadlock as Kim Bo-kyung blasted the Koreans into the lead from close range.
Eleven minutes later Sundowns were two goals down following a beautifully taken free-kick by Lee Jong-ho that beat Denis Onyango in goal.
The situation went from bad to worse when Sundowns defender Ricardo Nascimento put the ball into the back of his own net after 41 minutes.
Sundowns began the second half in a rejuvenated mood as Percy Tau got the reigning CAF Champions League holders on the scoresheet. The star forward curled his strike into the top-right corner to make the score 3-1 in the 48th minute.
The Brazilians went in search of a second goal and in the 59th minute Tiyani Mabunda came close to scoring, only for 'keeper Hong Jungnam to make a top save.
Jeonbuk showed their quality for the remainder of the encounter as they kept their South African opponents at bay.
The Korean side put the game to bed in the 89th minute through Kim Shin-wook.
Sundowns will hope they can fare better and climb the PSL table when they return to South Africa.
Mosimane's side will face Baroka FC on Thursday, December 22 in their final match of the year before the festive season break.
