Gamba crowned club kings of Asia after easy win

Japanese club Gamba Osaka won the Asian Champions League when they beat Adelaide United 2-0 in Adelaide yesterday to take the title 5-0 on aggregate.

The Australian side's hopes were effectively over after Brazilian striker Lucas scored twice within the opening 15 minutes.

Adelaide were rocked after four minutes when winger Hayato Sasaki fired a powerful long-range shot, which 17-year-old goalkeeper Mark Birighitti parried straight to the feet of Lucas, who was left with a simple tap-in.

The Adelaide defence was badly exposed 10 minutes later when some slick passing put Lucas in the clear on the left and the Brazilian calmly slotted the ball past Birighitti.

Adelaide coach Aurelio Vidmar said there had been no chance of coming back after conceding the early goals.

"That was the one thing that we didn't want to happen," Vidmar said. "But unfortunately it did - and it happened twice. From then on it was just backs to the wall."

The win gives Gamba their first Asian Champions League title and ensured Japan back-to-back wins following Urawa Red Diamonds' 2007 triumph.