Gamba Osaka are the new Champions of Asia

[imanmobali23]

[JMU]

wow Adelaide United riide BIG TIME.

[Nariman]

The game
Adelaide United 0-2 Gamba Osaka
Gamba Osaka win 5-0 on aggregate

Adelaide, without key defensive lynchpins Angelo Costanzo and Eugene Galekovic, had no option but to attack from the outset, and that they did, throwing men forward in search of an early goal. But it was at the other end that the scoring was opened on five minutes, when United's stand-in keeper Mark Birighitti fumbled a shot from Hayato Sasaki into the path of Gamba's Brazilian striker Lucas Severino, who pounced on the loose ball and put the Japanese visitors 4-0 ahead on aggregate.

Things got even worse for Adelaide ten minutes later, when a sublime pass from Takahiro Futagawa put Lucas in the clear once more. The Brazilian deftly evaded the advancing Birighitti and slotted home the second, to effectively put an end to Adelaide's Champions League dreams.

Cristiano looked to have given Adelaide the sniff of a comeback when he headed in a cross from the left on 27 minutes, but the linesman's flag denied the Brazilian. Gamba, meanwhile, had a number of chances to extend their lead before the break, but could not apply the finishing touch to any of their many sweeping moves.

In the second half, the home side rallied, driven on by their captain Travis Dodd, and came close to scoring on a number of occasions. But with Sota Nakazawa defiant at the back, Adelaide failed to breach the Gamba rearguard. The final whistle sounded to wild celebrations from the boys in blue.

Football Federation Australia CEO, Ben Buckley, nevertheless praised the Reds' achievement. "Even though Adelaide were beaten by Gamba Osaka, it's a fantastic achievement for a club from the A-League to get this far in just the second year of participating in the competition," he said.

The two sides will now prepare to compete against the world's elite next month. Gamba's formidable performance will have certainly given Japan 2008 favourites Liga de Quito and Manchester United food for thought.

[Nariman]

They found space, their movement off the ball was unbelievable and they're easily the best team we've played in this competition
Adelaide United's Travis Dodd hails the performance of his side's conquerors, Gamba Osaka.

[Nariman]

Pics:
http://www.fifa.com/clubworldcup/pho...97.html#944990

[Nariman]

The funny thing here is that Adelaide United is qualified for the fifa club world cup 2008 because they are the host country!
I hope they will play against Osaka again!

[G0happy]

A well deserved win. Adelaide is shit and they are just 1 of those sides who had a great run, but will not win the trophy (like Liverpool in the EPL). A-League sides are below standard for Asia and I believe IPL sides are much better than A-League opposition.

[shayan20]

lol Adelaide played so shit even in their home ground. It was obvious Gamba would beat them again.
15 minutes in and Gamba already scored 2

It was a very disappoiting, one-sided and non-attractive ACL Final. Last year's with Sepahan and Urawa was much more tense.

[Spyder]

Congrats to them...well done! Good show by the Aussies as well.

[Martin-Reza]

Saipa were crushed by a team that was crushed by another team in semfinals which was then again crushed in the final. Seems Saipa were as far away from the title as possible.

[Farhad-7]

wow 5-0 final!!!

[shayan20]

Saipa were crushed by a team that was crushed by another team in semfinals which was then again crushed in the final. Seems Saipa were as far away from the title as possible.

Let's be a bit fair to the Aussies though. Adelaide were missing 6-7 key players (all starters) for the finals.

[G0happy]

Let's be a bit fair to the Aussies though. Adelaide were missing 6-7 key players (all starters) for the finals.

So who cares, thats soccer. Good clubs can replace these kind of players and good managers can use tactics.

[persianfire]

Our clubs haven't won the champions league since 1993.
That's depressing.

[Masoud_A]

Our clubs haven't won the champions league since 1993.
That's depressing.

Back then it wasnt Champions league, its been only a few years since the new system has been put to practice.