Gamba Osaka - Champions of Asia

A double from Brazilian striker Lucas inside the opening twenty minutes gave Akira Nishino’s stylish outfit cup glory at a packed-out Hindmarsh Stadium.

First Half

It took Gamba only four minutes to effectively end Adelaide’s hopes of lifting Asian club football’s most prized trophy, doing so in a matter perhaps more befitting an archetypal league encounter than a continental cup final.

However, the nature of the goal highlighted the gulf in class between the two clubs that was apparent across 90 minutes in Japan a week ago.

Midfielder Hayato Sasaki was at the heart of the move, twisting and turning just outside the penalty area with the surrounding Adelaide players simply unable to shackle the 25 year-old.

His eventual shot was parried by 17 year-old Mark Birighitti into the path of the mobile Lucas, who tapped the ball into an empty net.

The sharp movement of the striker was a stark contrast to the lethargy of those defenders around him, both in the lead-up and reaction to a goal that silenced an initially vocal sell-out crowd at Hindmarsh Stadium.

Immediately appearing unable to break down their cultured J-League opponents, Adelaide’s first attempt on goal arrived courtesy of a half-turn by Cristiano outside the box, after which the Brazilian striker’s tame effort was saved comfortably by Fujigaya.

It was only a minute later however that Gamba tore apart the home side’s defence with the simplest of moves.

A complete absence of man-marking from Adelaide was a stark contrast to the apparent impenetrability of the Japanese side’s defense, as Takahiro Futagawa found himself unchallenged inside the Adelaide half.

The Gamba veteran then produced a perfectly-weighted through ball for Brazilian striker Lucas, who spun away from Michael Valkanis with ease before producing a wonderfully delicate finish past Birighitti to make it 5-0 on aggregate.

Cristiano’s disallowed goal on 26 minutes epitomized what was has been a frustrating and fruitless final for Adelaide United, with the Brazilian striker rightly flagged for offside after heading home Jamieson’s cross from close range.

Their defensive frailty was similarly reflected only two minutes later, as Robert Cornthwaite decided to let a cross into the area run free, only to see it arrived to Futagawa at the back-post.

His cushioned header set-up the influential Sasaki, who could only direct his half-volley at Birighitti.

Gamba’s first-leg star Michihiro Yasuda then embarrassed Robert Cornthwaite when he turned the towering full-back on the by-line, before playing the ball back to Hideo Hashimoto, whose close range effort was blocked by the ‘keeper.

Second Half

An improved start to the second-half by Adelaide saw them denied what appeared to be two penalties when Kristian Sarkies and then Cristiano were brought down in the area, with the crowd galvanized by the flurry of attacking pressure from the home side.

Even with a new-found momentum and sense of purpose, Aurelio Vidmar’s men still struggled to break down their opponents, with their first half-chance arriving through a misdirected Diego snap-shot on 62’ minutes.

The fact that it was virtually Adelaide’s last opportunity of the match is an indication of the quality of performance of the Japanese outfit, who comfortably held on to the lead secure their first ever Asian Champions League trophy – just reward for the style of football cultivated by manager Akira Nishino, whose players were quick to hoist up their leader in celebration after the final whistle.

Adelaide 0
Gamba Osaka 2 (Lucas 5', 15')

(Gamba win 5-0 on aggregate)

by: Chris Paraskevas

Gamba 3-0 Adelaide: Gamba close in on ACL glory

Adelaide's Brazilian duo of Cristiano (right) and Cassio double up on Gamba midfielder Hideo Hashimoto.

OSAKA – Gamba Osaka have one hand on the AFC Champions League trophy after dismantling Adelaide United with a 3-0 victory in the first leg of the final at Expo ’70 Commemorative Stadium on Wednesday.

Brazilian striker Lucas opened the scoring with a deflected shot in the 37th minute and then set up the second for Yasuhito Endo six minutes later.

Michihiro Yasuda volleyed home Gamba’s third in the 68th minute and although Endo had a late goal disallowed, the margin of victory gives Adelaide a mountain to climb in next week’s return match in South Australia.

With Eugene Galekovic still feeling the effects of a groin injury, Gamba tested the Adelaide keeper early on with Myojin sending in a snap shot from 25 yards that was alertly palmed away.

However, the pressure of the home side paid off in the 37th minute as Takahiro Futagawa’s neat pass from the halfway line picked out Lucas in the right channel with only Angelo Costanzo in close attendance.

The Brazilian worked his way to the top of the Adelaide box and although his shot lacked real conviction, it took a deflection off Costanzo and wrong-footed Galekovic as it bounced into the net.

Sota Nakazawa sent a header straight at Galekovic shortly afterwards before Gamba grabbed a second two minutes before half-time after some fine interplay in the Adelaide half.

Hayato Sasaki fed the ball to Lucas and the Brazilian quickly played it to his left to a completely unmarked Endo. The Japan international advanced into the box and fired a low shot across a helpless Galekovic into the far corner of the net.

Travis Dodd crafted his side’s best opportunity early in the second half, sending in a low cross from the right byline that found Robert Cornthwaite. But the Adelaide player failed to make clean contact and the ball eventually went over the crossbar after a scramble in front of goal.

Sasa Ognenovski deflected a shot by Lucas into the side netting but from the resulting corner in the 68th minute, Endo picked out an unmarked Yasuda, whose first-time volley from the top of the Adelaide box bounced past a crowd of players into the net.

Gamba continued to press for more goals and were unfortunate not to add a fourth as substitute Roni fired over in the 75th minute before Masato Yamazaki saw his shot tipped over by Galekovic seven minutes from time.

Endo then fired home a free-kick in stoppage time but the effort was disallowed after referee Abdul Malik Bashir spotted an infringement in the box.